Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will be asking questions to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. As we all know the importance of developing young people in the work force, can the Minister please explain how the Power Corporation implements their apprenticeship program across the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.
Mr. Speaker, as the corporation's needs dictate, we hire apprentices with the objective to fill as many permanent positions with Northerners. Prior to incumbents retiring or leaving, we set employment competitions for apprentices in their specific trade and in the specific community in which the need arises. Thank you.
I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister confirm that the Power Corporation’s practice of implementing their apprenticeship program is similar to other government departments across the NWT?
Yes, I can advise that we follow the GNWT-developed program for our apprentices. Our apprentices are all registered with the GNWT ECE, and we follow their hours and schooling procedures.
I guess I'm going to have to reword my question. When I talk to the Minister about apprenticeship and the process, it is about the grades and how they develop the application for these students or young people to apply for jobs. Does the Minister know if his department works consistently with the Government of the Northwest Territories' other departments, and how they implement apprenticeship programs.
I understand that we have a long-term program of developing apprentices, and I assume we work consistently with other government departments. I don't have any direct evidence of that, but I assume that to be the case.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually, I think the department should maybe get together and look at how they actually implement their apprenticeship programs, but I will go on to my next question. Can the Minister please tell the House how many northern apprenticeships are employed by the Power Corporation, and how many successful candidates are employed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I can advise that currently there are seven apprentices at the Power Corporation. Those seven are already full-time employees and they will be offered permanent employment upon the successful completion of their apprenticeships. We currently have four journeyman employees that have completed their apprenticeships through the Power Corporation.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Premier made a statement about a First Ministers’ meeting that is happening in Vancouver. This is an important meeting that he is going to. It's the first time in six years that the First Ministers have actually gotten together, and I'm sure I can say on behalf of all the MLAs that we're really glad that he is going and it's an important meeting. I'm wondering if he can tell the House, though, how he will be guided by the recently amended and adopted the Mandate of the Government of the Northwest Territories 2016-2019. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see the mandate that has been developed as our way forward and it will be incorporated into all of the mandate letters of all of the Ministers. This will guide all of our discussions going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Premier for his response. I guess I was asking the question, though, in the context of this First Ministers’ meeting in Vancouver that he is going down to. I am wondering if he has any specific asks or requests that he is going to be making at that meeting, and if he could share those with the House.
As the Members know, the Premiers from all the provinces and territories in Canada will be there, as well as the Prime Minister of Canada. The first day will be a meeting with the leaders of three national Aboriginal organizations in Canada, and so those discussions will be primarily on climate change and the economy. The second day will be a First Ministers’ meeting between the Prime Minister and the 13 Premiers of all of the provinces and territories. What I will be talking about is how climate change is affecting us in the Northwest Territories. We’ll be talking on a number of issues and how we can all work together to deal with the issue. There are a number of important issues will be discussed.
All of the provinces and territories are working on a Vancouver declaration, which will be in follow-up to a Quebec declaration that was discussed and issued earlier in the summer. I believe it was July or September. There was one meeting in Toronto of all the Premiers, and there was another meeting in Quebec City. Those are the discussions that will be going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Premier again for his response. It sounds like climate change is going to be a major theme at this First Ministers’ conference. I wonder if the Premier could make a commitment to report back to the Regular Members about what happens that the important meeting, and perhaps table a report in the House.
As I indicated to the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, I will be pleased to report back. Some of the discussions are embargoed and are on a confidential basis, but I have no problem sharing it with the standing committee on that basis.
Masi. Member for Frame Lake.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and I want to thank the Premier for that commitment. I look forward to the report. In his statement yesterday, the Premier said the Government of the Northwest Territories is also in the process of developing a strategy to ensure that the federal government understands territorial priorities and sets the groundwork for active partnerships in areas of common interest. The key phrase in this is “developing a strategy.” I’m wondering if the Premier would make the commitment to consult with the Regular Members as he develops this strategy, to help better convey what our priorities are to the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the 17th Assembly, we developed a federal engagement strategy because we felt it was more effective and efficient if we had a very well-coordinated and limited number of asks, and I'm pleased to say that we were very successful in being able to advance our priorities with the federal government. We did seek input from the standing committee, and would be pleased to do that again.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement from earlier today, I address these questions to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. It's been three years since the NT Energy Power System Plan and the NWT Energy Action Plan called for a pre-feasibility study of the Taltson Southern Expansion, and my questions are related to that. I'd like to know where we are on that. That was three years ago, we should be three years in. I would like to ask: Does the government know what the costs are to upgrade the hydro facility to make a southern expansion economically feasible? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Power Corporation is investigating with SaskPower the potential of interconnection from Taltson to Uranium City. What's changed in the last period of time, in the last year in fact, is that Saskatchewan now is committed to reach 50 per cent renewable energy mixed by 2030. That being the case, they will need 1100 megawatts of generation. This has opened an opportunity for us and we are investigating that with SaskPower. Thank you.
I was wondering if the Minister had actual numbers as to the cost of upgrading the Taltson facility.
It depends, to some degree, on the scope of the project. There could be up to 200 megawatts from the Taltson system, which would supply about 20 per cent of the needs of Saskatchewan. I understand that the likely cost of the project would probably be over $500 million. Perhaps between that and a billion dollars.
This will be my final question. I just want to know, considering that is a pretty hefty price tag, has the government and will the government approach the federal government to seek funds to help with this expansion?
Yes, of course. The exact cost is not yet known at this time and we are contemplating a situation in which Saskatchewan would be paying a considerable portion of this. This would seem to be the type of project that the federal government would be interested in, and I think, if we move ahead further with Saskatchewan, that likely we will be approaching the federal government. Thank you.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have further questions for the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. We've heard that these new RCMP units will be a source of revenue. With the Department of Justice paying 70 per cent of the costs, the majority share of the agreement we have with the federal government, how exactly will this generate revenue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Justice actually pays 70 per cent for the policing services. The RCMP will be paying rent for the units. Thank you.
Just to repeat, the Minister can confirm that the RCMP will pay 100 per cent of the costs for renting those units?
The RCMP will pay 100 per cent of the assessed rent within each community.
Last question. Could the Minister explain exactly what she means by "assessed rent" so that the public could understand, please?
The assessed rent will be market rent within each community.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled “Northwest Territories Revenue Options, February 2016.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Tabling of documents. Minister responsible for NWT Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled “2015 Annual Report, Northwest Territories Power Corporation” and “2015 Annual Report, Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation”. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
