Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, the Minister of Transportation made a statement about some of the major infrastructure projects that we hope will go forward and help facilitate long-term revenue generation. As a government, we need to support visionary projects like these that will secure a strong and prosperous future. One such project that hasn't received enough attention and has amazing potential for the NWT is the expansion and southern connection of the Taltson hydro dam. Currently, the dam can produce up to 18 megawatts of which we use about 10. If upgraded, it could produce 190 megawatts. Taltson is only 200 kilometres from Uranium City, Saskatchewan. That means right now we're only 200 kilometres away from being connected into the continental grid. We'll essentially be able to sell as much electricity as we can produce, providing a revenue stream for generations to come. We need buy-in from Saskatchewan because the infrastructure from Uranium City to the south needs to be upgraded to accommodate the excess load, but the province has committed to doubling the amount of renewable energy it uses by 2013 and we're right at their doorstep.
While the project is costly, the federal Liberals have committed money for renewable energy projects, and just like the proposed highway projects, we may be eligible for up to a 75 per cent contribution. In 2013, the NWT Power System Plan recommended a 20-year plan for the southern expansion of Taltson, finding it would have positive impacts and create jobs. The NWT's 2013 Energy Action Plan states that a large-scale project like this presents the best opportunity for a fundamental change in energy supply. The federal Senate Committee on Energy, the Environment and Natural Resources said, “That the absence of a link for the continental grid leads to costly and inefficient outcomes.” A key result of the 2014 NWT Energy Charette was a call to find ways to make use of the excess energy potential in the Taltson system. Over and over again, we say this is a good idea. Resource extraction is vital to our future, but we can't limit our investments to just highways. We have a resource with amazing potential and an eager market at our doorstep. It's time we think big and make investments in our renewable future. At the appropriate time, I'll have questions for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
