Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I make this statement on the need for back-up power in the community of Kakisa. Kakisa is supplied electrical energy through Northland Utilities and the diesel generator is situated at Dory Point. Recently the community had a power outage and there was no back-up power. Impacted by that unfortunate predicament that the community was in, you know, the impacts of electrical power impacts the core of the costs of living. My question is to the Minister for Public Works. I understand that the Government of the Northwest Territories plans to develop a new Energy Plan within this year. What is the status of that work? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister of Public Works and Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members may be aware, the Energy Plan just expired at the end of March 2016, so we're just taking part in this process. I'm presuming that we'll begin this process within this fiscal year and hoping to be finished by the end of the fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I'd like to thank the Minister for her reply. How will Regular Members on this side of the House and the public be involved in the development of the Energy Plan?
We're always willing to work within the public, and so I'm hoping that we'll utilize the MLAs as well and keep them informed and utilize them to actually reach out to their constituents and to provide support within the Energy Plan that we're looking at.
Mr. Speaker, how will the new Energy Plan reflect the needs and the realities of small communities such as Kakisa, a community that needs back-up power?
Public Works and Services is really aware of the needs of thermal communities, and so one of our priorities is really to work within those communities to try to supplement their usage of diesel. All of the small communities and the thermal communities, as well as market communities, will be considered within the Energy Plan that we're developing.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister comment on possible opportunities for the Northwest Territories stemming from the federal government's commitment to get remote communities off diesel, especially in terms of getting financial support for renewable energy projects? Mahsi.
The Department of Public Works and Services is always willing to negotiate with the federal government to see if there are resources that we can utilize to assist within the Northwest Territories. Specifically with Kakisa, we've had some positive work with looking at extending the transmission line from Enterprise to Kakisa and to Fort Providence. Of course that would take significant financial resources to do that. At this point we're actually trying to negotiate with the federal government to see if they would provide support for that project.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
