Debates of February 22, 2018 (day 14)

Date
February
22
2018
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
14
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Statements

Question 145-18(3): Liquid Natural Gas Proposal

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to follow up on my Member's statement today, and I have some questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. As part of the NWT climate change, have the various departments looked at potentially expanding the use of liquid natural gas, commonly known as LNG, outside the Inuvik source of NWT natural gas? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. LNG is used specifically in Inuvik right now, as well all know. As we develop our 2030 Energy Strategy and our energy plan going forward, LNG is a significant part of that, to reduce our greenhouse house gas emissions. When we roll that out later this spring, we will see the opportunities that are available to residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer, and it's good to hear that the department and the governments are looking at that. So my next question for the Minister: has the Minister had the opportunity to discuss the proposal with the staff about the Canadian North LNG Project?

As of late, when we are at the Mineral Roundup, that group was there and I had a chat with them, and they have sent me a proposal of how they see they can use the Cameron Hills LNG possibly in the Northwest Territories.

I thank the Minister, who kind of answered my third question, so I'll go back to my second question. Has the Minister talked to his staff about this proposal that, supposedly, some of the former Department of Public Works talked to these proponents of this proposal?

The Member is talking about, maybe, the original proposal which they had submitted previous to both him and me being elected to the Legislative Assembly. The latest one they've sent me, they revised their proposal, and it is a different approach of how they can use the gas out of the Cameron Hills, ship it to Alberta, process it just across the border, and then be able to sell it back to proponents in the Northwest Territories, being either NTPC or a mining company or something like that.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, and I thank the Minister for that clarification. I think he's correct in saying that it might have been a previous proposal. So is the Minister willing to set up a meeting with myself and the principal organizer, or principal component of this company, and some interested people in the Northwest Territories who wish to see this project being feasible? Is he willing to work with us to set up a meeting? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd gladly sit down with the Member and the proponents of the Canadian Natural Gas Proposal, whatever their legal entity name is, and the people who want to discuss it, and look at opportunities for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.