Deputy Premier
Statements in Debates
Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't know that I have that here right now. I can certainly make an inquiry as to whether or not. But I yes, I think there's I think we probably have an estimate. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This program is now a policy of the GNWT, Mr. Speaker. Really, the conversation here began because we're cognizant that this is a community these are communities that have been under an evacuation now two years in a row. But in any event, that it's going to be available going forward.
As far as a difference between isolated versus non-isolated, again, Mr. Speaker, the emergency management process involves ensuring the availability of transport to any resident who is under an evacuation order. So just as there was busses available to support people who needed it coming...
Thank you, Madam Chair. So the price of fuel that was in the rate is $1. It is now market price, of course much higher at $1.50, which is roughly a 40 percent increase. And power generation for communities is exempt from the carbon tax application. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so just briefly, firstly, this is all available online if anyone wants to have a look at it if they're in a capacity to do that. But in short, anyone over the age of 17 who's been subject to an evacuation order of seven days or more and who has had some sort of income disruption or income loss as a result of that, they can apply. You don't have to have been evacuated. We certainly want to encourage people when they're under an evacuation order to please evacuate. It's not there for anything less than necessity. But also didn't want to exclude the fact that...
Thank you, Madam Chair. It right now is if I'm it's allocated and designated for arts specifically under the SEED program, which is administered by ITI. I can't say that it's then further broken down as being for any particular region or community. I believe it is based on applications and, you know, again, I yes, I think it's applicationbased. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it is challenging to be able to provide electricity to a very small number of ratepayers scattered across a very wide geographic region. Many, if not the vast majority, of which of those communities are not connected one to the other, let alone any of us, to any larger grid. So there certainly is we've heard announced today the Inuvik Wind Project is one project that is moving forward, that is looking for an alternative, to increase an alternative to diesel. And certainly to the extent that there might be some additional at some point we're going to...
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm happy to think about that. Madam Chair, when I first took on the responsibility here about two and a half years ago, I don't disagree with the idea of trying to get all fishers into some kind of whether it's a, you know, forum or conference, but into a place where everyone's receiving the information about the fish industry and fish revitalization at the same time so there can hopefully be not any misunderstandings about what's happening, why it's happening, who's doing the training, who's available for the training, who's interested in having training...
Thank you, Madam Chair. So right now, Madam Chair, the rates that are built in were built at a time that reflect a much lower amount of price on diesel. So there's obviously a couple of drivers that are making that now no longer accurate. And what happens is there is a rate stabilization fund approach, which is a standard utility approach to help when there are costs overages of this nature. Of what that would do, it would create a rider and if there is a rider imposed, that would then of course raise the rates. Rather than have individual residents face increased rates at this time given...
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, fishers do right now have the ability to apply through SEED force subsidies to support them with the cost of equipment. They are also being supported in terms of provided training, both in the winter and the summer fishery, and in the works right now is an effort to provide additional funding. Funding was already provided once last fiscal year and again this year to help support having mentors and trainees on the boats which would then support their labour needs. There is also has traditionally been and continues to be support subsidy support for...
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, at this point, we're still certainly anticipating to have an operating surplus, and as such and a sufficient operating surplus to be above the amount we would require to avoid being noncompliant with the fiscal responsibility policy. Thank you.