Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my statement is directed to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Maintaining current operations is a normal corporate business; however, creating new, innovative models of reducing cost is a demonstration of good management. I know we have heard in previous statements there, there has been some measure such as replacing the board of directors will amount to X amount of dollars in cost savings, but there’s other initiatives that were highlighted in previous statements such as using more pilot projects like the solar power project in Colville, and I’d like to ask the Minister responsible, when considering the demand is increasing on the grid supply of power so the economy of scale comes in, and I’m just wondering what reduction plans are in place within the corporate structure? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of NWT Power Corporation
Yes, Mr. Speaker. The corporation is always looking at new projects and ways of becoming more efficient. There is, of course, a new board in place and I believe they’ve had some preliminary discussions, but their first meeting I think is only next week. They will be tasked with, as I mentioned earlier, looking at the whole of the corporation; looking at ways that can become more efficient and more productive. We also, however, will still be looking at new technologies to enhance the technologies we already have but always keeping in mind that we must attempt to supply power at a reasonable price to our constituents, the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In reducing costs and looking at creating more revenues that’s ongoing, is there an internal briefing that could be supplied to the other side for such things as layoffs possibly, reduction of hours, those types of measures to reducing corporate cost?
Mr. Speaker, the corporation is always looking at reducing costs; clearly that’s very important, particularly as I mentioned the other day that the amount of sales in the sense of the amount of power being sold seems to be constant or actually in decline. To avoid further large increases in rates we must look, and they must look, for efforts to reduce any costs they do have. Clearly, the new board will be tasked with that responsibility but I think senior management is well aware of that responsibility also and has taken efforts to reduce costs as much as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can we request if there’s any reduction plans on reducing internal operating O and M costs? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure I heard the question completely. I can advise that the corporation and its board will be tasked with attempting to reduce costs. I don’t actually have a plan nor do they have a plan in mind, but that is simply part of the normal corporate responsibility of keeping costs in line, particularly as I say when we are in a situation where you’re not increasing sales. There are ongoing efforts all the time to reduce costs. I’m not aware of a specific plan to reduce costs, but clearly that’s a corporate and board of directors’ responsibility.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there is one to be developed here in the near future or upcoming future, could that plan of reduction or reducing expenses be provided to our side there? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, there is no specific plan at this time to reduce costs; there’s always attempts to reduce costs. However, I will have discussions with the board and be giving direction to them in several areas, so certainly that is an area that I could bring back to this House if there is a specific request made by me through consultations with the people in this room, the Cabinet and so on. I don’t think there’s any specific planned reductions at this time apart from the normal ongoing corporate responsibility of keeping costs in line.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
