Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to ask Mr. Jenkins to provide some rationale about why the planning was done in previous years. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Inuvik wind project, that is another key initiative under our 2030 Energy Strategy. We've been in the regulatory process for a few years, the Member is correct. The recent ruling from the Gwich'in Land and Water Board on the eligibility to occupy land, the board did rule that the GNWT is eligible to occupy the land for this project and for this purpose. Madam Chair, we will continue on through the regulatory process, and that is an opportunity for parties to raise concerns with the turbine itself and environmental concerns throughout the process. We respect that process. We will work through that process, and we look forward to the discussions with all the parties. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. Member for Frame Lake.
Thanks, Madam Chair. Where I'm going to go with this is: I am very worried that this project is going to get referred to an environmental assessment. There was no reason whatsoever that that had to happen, had our government actually properly consulted and worked with the Gwich'in Government in relation to this project. I also don't think it's a great idea where GNWT willy-nilly decides that it can reallocate pieces of land that have been designated for certain purposes for other purposes. You can't take stuff out of a reindeer-grazing reserve and unilaterally decide you're going to change it to do something else. Are we going to follow our own laws, or not? If you are going to change the law in that region, you need to consult the Indigenous governments, as well.
This is a head's up for the Minister: with other infrastructure projects, including this one, we should not be willy-nilly deciding that we're going to change areas that are set out in regulations and unilaterally decide you're going to change it to something else. I'd like to get an explanation as to why we think we have the ability to change something that is a reindeer-grazing reserve to a wind turbine without going through due process, changing the regulations, and consulting the appropriate Indigenous government? Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Inuvik wind project, again, is one of our key initiatives, so that is something that we are working toward. We have been waiting for the Gwich'in Land and Water Board to be able to give a ruling, and we are quite excited about the ruling that was done today. We continue to engage with communities and Indigenous organizations, so we can start to advance the project and ensure that participation and partnership in the development of any energy solutions here in the territories. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thanks, Madam Chair. I'm just going to read one line, one line, from the most recent ruling that came out yesterday: "The Gwich'in Land and Water Board suggests that the GNWT is best placed to enforce its own legislation." That includes, this is me editorializing, the reindeer-grazing reserve. You cannot just unilaterally decide that you are going to change something that is designated for a certain purpose under a regulation and decide that you are going to use it for something else without changing the regulation itself. That is against the law, and we are breaking our own laws. Thanks, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. I'll take that as a comment. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go to fuel storage capacity with respect to Hay River. I understand why we are looking at this, but the question I have is: why is the government doing this when we actually have a private sector in Hay River that could possibly handle it? Even in Enterprise, there is an industrial yard going in there, which I understand they have rail car service there and they may have extra or be looking at fuel storage there. I am just wondering if the government has actually talked to that proponent and really looked at this issue because it's going to add environmental liability to the government, depending where these tanks are. I suspect that they are probably going to be in the old town, on the island of Hay River, close to water sources. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The MTS, the department, is looking and studying and considering the construction of a buffer fuel storage capacity at the Hay River marine terminal, so that is kind of where we are at now and also looking at the needs of the people in Hay River. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Madam Chair, my concern is that we are turning MTS, by the looks of it, into almost a private-sector type business, competing against private sector. I would like the government to reconsider this and gauge the private sector to see if there is anybody who can provide that service. I understand that there are funds made available, supposedly by federal government, with some costs provided by the territorial government, as well. I would just like to know what those numbers are. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I hear the Member's concern about working with the private sector, and if that is an option for the department, then, absolutely, that is something we can look at. In terms of the number, I am going to send this to Mr. Jenkins, looking for the costs. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the question. It's a total of $21.5 million federal and $7.5 million GNWT. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. Those are the numbers I have, as well. I am pleased to hear that the Minister will consider talking to private sector and try to include them in on this, as well. The next thing I want to go to here is the transmission line, the Fort Providence transmission line. I would ask the Minister: where is that line going to start, and where is it going to end? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to get Mr. Jenkins to provide this information.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Fort Providence T-line will use surplus power available in the existing Taltson system. That will virtually eliminate the use of diesel for electrical generation in the communities of Fort Providence, Kakisa, and Dory Point, except for emergency backup. There will be a need still for diesel emergency backup. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Knowing that Northland Utilities actually provides the power to Kakisa and to Fort Providence, what involvement will they have in that line, or is this line going to be part of the potential takeover when we talk about the Hay River franchise? Are we also looking at Kakisa's and Fort Providence's potential takeover by the Power Corporation? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to talk a little bit about the project, using the surplus hydropower, that is available at the existing Taltson system to eliminate the use of diesel for electrical generation in the communities of Fort Providence, Kakisa, Dory Point. The delivery of hydropower to the customers and communities would also reduce the cost of power. I am going to revert the question over to Mr. Jenkins to provide more detail on what the plan is for the project. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. As mentioned, this is a 170-kilometre-long transmission line that is being proposed, from Hay River to Fort Providence. We have had discussions with the utility. Obviously, the utility will be involved in discussions moving forward. Ultimately, there will be a power supply that will provide whatever utility in the future is responsible for delivering that electricity in the community. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It's interesting. I do not oppose the idea. That is for sure. We are always looking for cheaper power in the south. When I read the news, I see that the Power Corporation, we're spilling water over the dam and we've got surplus power, but we are not utilizing it in the communities to promote manufacturing or to promote electric heat. I understand that the reason that we are doing this, possibly, is because we are waiting for the big mine to show up around Pine Point or wherever. We seem to be waiting for that big white elephant, and it never seems to come, when we could be actually using that source of power to reduce the cost of power in the South Slave area, which would then, in turn, spur the economy, as well, like the manufacturing sector and whatever other businesses. I am just wondering what are your thoughts on that, Madam.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I think the project is one of the best projects we have in this energy strategy. There is opportunity within the many different projects that are happening here in the South, whether it be whatever region, that we need to be able to look and see what works best, what is cost-saving, and try to help us meet our 2030 Energy Strategy. This is something that our department is looking into. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thank you, Madam Chair. When I look at it, I am looking how to reduce the cost for the people in the community. This is one way to do it. It has been sitting there for years, year after year after year, and nothing gets done. Now, it's the best project. It is a good project. There is no doubt about that. I just hope that we utilize it in the right way.
I would like to go to talk about the ferry system. I know in Fort Simpson they were looking at the potential for a bridge. I am just wondering what involvement the government has in this, or is it just the community of Fort Simpson that was pushing this idea? I know that the ferry system, a few of the ferries are probably aging out, and there is going to be a requirement to either build new ones and replace them or look at a bridge along the different areas. I am just wondering what the government is planning with respect to aging ferries and replacements. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to give this to Mr. Jenkins. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Jenkins.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would ask that Mr. Loutitt take this question. Thank you.
Thank you. Mr. Loutitt.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The department is continually looking at our ferry operations, and they are on our schedule for maintenance, for rehabilitation, for retrofits, as we have in our plan, to continually keep them operating safely and effectively and efficiently. We're also looking at bridges in certain areas. We've had studies going on that we're beginning. We've had consultants visit certain areas and we're looking at what our bridge needs for the future. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Loutitt. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a few things in regard to the Infrastructure services that were going. The Inuvik terminal and the runway extension, just making sure that we have local contractors that are doing the work that's coming up on these projects. Keep it local and in regard to no bringing in outsiders. That's just a comment to have on that. The M18 project, they had a meeting last night back home with M18, which is 13 kilometers outside of Tuktoyaktuk, on Tuktoyaktuk 71a lands, and I'm just wondering if this government is looking at any monies because it will provide LNG with the condensates off of that wealth. You'd get gasoline and diesel that we could provide for the region. I'm just wondering if there is anything coming up with that question I have for M18 for funding. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. That project is a great opportunity for the Beaufort-Delta. We provided the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation with a support letter to be able to advance the project. We're constantly looking for ways to be able to tap into stuff that are cheaper for our infrastructure, and there is opportunity for the Member's community in Tuktoyaktuk to be able to look at how we can perhaps tap into the source. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Yes. It is a really good opportunity to get gas a lot cheaper for the outlying communities because I think, without our subsidy that's given by our government, you'd be paying $2-something a litre. Getting opportunity to do something like this would probably be about $1.25 a litre, if not a little bit cheaper, because we're getting it right there at the source. It being on 71a lands under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, 71a lands meaning Tuktoyaktuk lands. Are we keeping in contact with the Tuktoyaktuk community corporation with their business, the Tuktoyaktuk development corporation, and keeping them apprised on what we're doing with IRC and keeping them in the loop, or is it just IRC giving them information? How does that work with this, Madam Chair? Thank you.
