Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn't around in 2019 when the MLAs got together and they went to a retreat and they put in all their wish list into a bucket, and then they came up with 24 recommendations. But part of those recommendations was very clear, that there will be no power increase. In the Northwest Territories, we got the highest power rates in Canada, next to Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and so on. And right now, in last year, just after the budget was ended, this government made an announcement to increase the power rates by 20 percent over a twoyear period.
Mr. Speaker, now that the public utilities board has squashed the power corporation's excessive demands for power rate increases, what is the Minister's plan to make up for revenue shortfalls that this increase was supposed to cover? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Minister responsible for NTPC.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Northwest Territories Public Utility Board has issued a decision on NTPC's rate application. The public utilities board gave very specific direction to NTPC and NTPC is filing a response to these directions. Again, Mr. Speaker, I need to say this again: It's the public utilities board's role to be able to determine final energy rates here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just picking up on where the Minister left off there; my question is a twopart question: Is the power rate going to go up now when you bring back an application to the utility board; are we looking at another power increase? At the same time, Mr. Speaker, the Minister made the announcement to raise the power rates only after the 20222023 budget was passed last year, without the opportunity for debate in the House. I'm asking the Minister to commit to more transparency around rate increases and commitments to consult with Regular MLAs before giving direction to the power corporation. Will the Minister do this? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board is the body that determines rates for all utilities here in the territories. Northwest Territories Power Corporation has previously provided Regular MLAs information on rates. And, Mr. Speaker, we will continue to do so. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I take it that the power rates is going to be going up. So if that's the case, Mr. Speaker, then why do we have retreats? Why do we go to these things and bring our voices to the table when we're not consulted? You know, we got over 9,000 customers here in the Northwest Territories and, you know, we want to raise powers rates? Maybe it's time to review the power corporation and maybe quit giving out these bonuses.
Mr. Speaker, the high cost of power is breaking the backs of residents, small businesses, and big industry in the Northwest Territories. How does the Minister propose to reduce these costs and make more power rates affordable in the NWT? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories energy policy seeks to balance reliability with sustainability and affordability. Projects such as the Taltson Expansion Hydro Project would allow for increased mining activity using sociallyaccepted, clean, green energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Okay, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Unfunded infrastructure projects, mega projects, that are decades away from completions are not a solution. Northerners can count on what short and mediumterm solution is the Minister working on to provide our residents with relief from high rates of power and to also meet the mandate of this government that they put out in 20192023? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Northwest Territories Power Corporation has signalled a Memorandum of Understanding with Osisko Metals to use excess power at the existing Taltson hydro facility. So revenues generated from that industry sales would be used to mitigate some of the increased cost of power. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.
