Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, yesterday at the rise of the House we had a presentation on the Taltson Hydro Expansion. I asked the Minister if they were going to do any consultation with Aboriginal groups that are affected by the Taltson River Expansion and he said no. So I would like to ask the Premier if that's the policy of this government not to consult with people on potentially the biggest project that this government is going to be taking on?
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Member that as soon as we have a project where we have a customer and where we have secured federal funding and support, we will be out there consulting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Several other organizations, including the Saskatchewan government, are aware of what is happening obviously because they're going to be the main customer. What would be the issue with engaging Aboriginal governments now rather than later?
We've been down this road before. Previously we spent $13 million in the hopes of finding a customer. That project did not materialize and we do not intend to go forward without a customer or without an indication of federal support.
That project that moved forward previously was Deze; that had Aboriginal partners. Aboriginal people were instrumental in moving it forward and supporting it so that the diamond industry could become a customer. Because of the life of the diamond mines we were unable to make a deal, this is a little different scenario. If they were involved in Deze, are we just living off the consultation from back then or are we planning on engaging Aboriginal governments sooner than later?
The Taltson River has 18 megawatts of installed hydro capacity but has 200 megawatts of hydro potential which could be developed over the next decade. The Taltson Hydro Expansion combined with a southern transmission link, could provide a green energy corridor that would stabilize power costs in the North, displace coal generation in the South and remove economic barriers to remote resource development. The first phase, if we go down that route, would leverage past work to build a 60-megawatt hydro expansion within five years that would double the Northwest Territories hydro capacity and eliminate 360,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
The Government of the Northwest Territories has engaged the Saskatchewan government and SaskPower to explore the costs and market conditions for a project linked with their jurisdiction. Alberta is also an area of interest. Our government has signed on to the pan-Canadian climate framework. We have identified this as a priority with the Government of Canada. We have no indication whether they are committed to that. We are hopeful that we have a positive signal from the federal budget that will be out on March 22nd, and we have been criticized for advancing the House in projects. Until we have customers and until we have an indication of federal support, we do not think we have a project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the mid-1960s, the Taltson Hydro Project was brought in without consultation at all with Aboriginal organizations. This is an expansion that is going to increase the size of that at least threefold. The first time it was done without consultation, I asked a previous Minister before: what would happen if the Talston project started today? He said there would be an EA. During an EA process, there is consultation, usually consultation with the people who are affected. What would be wrong with consulting the Aboriginal people now? Is it because they are in the way, or what is the issue that we can’t consult with them now? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, we do not want to raise false expectations. We do not want to suggest that there is a project, when there is no project. Like I said, I can reassure the Member that as soon as we get an indication of federal support, and as soon as we have a power customer, we will be very pleased to consult. We have a duty to consult, which is a legal requirement.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
