Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the new federal government has offered billions in green infrastructure and plenty of money available for developing renewable power and renewable energy economies. Has the Northwest Territories Power Corporation applied for any of these resources, and are they looking at deploying to the Northwest Territories so we can get away from increases over every year, as The Minister said we can anticipate? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Previously the Minister had said that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been the recipient of substantial GNWT subsidies in recent years. Why is it then that the Power Corporation continues to increase power rates each year, more than 40 per cent since 2012? Is this subsidy a prudent expenditure of government resources in keeping the cost of power under control? It doesn’t seem to be working, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s often said that our cost of living is out of control. It’s always the top priority for Northerners when discussing governments and public policy and action that we can take to improve their lives. Mr. Speaker, the high cost of power is a key driver in making the NWT a very expensive place to live and run a business. Taking control of the cost of power is perhaps the most important way our government can lower the cost of living and reduce government spending, which I’m sure the Finance Minister is pleased to hear. Mr. Speaker, the recent move to remove...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the government has brought its budget for the coming year. I am pleased to see it is not in fact an austerity budget, rather is one of status quo. It balances reductions with new spending in an effort to meet the shared priorities of both sides of this House. While I’m pleased with this outcome, I cannot say the same for the efforts undertaken by the leadership of the Premier and Cabinet to communicate these spending measures. In fact, I do not believe that any reasonable Northerner would have believed in the months leading up to the introduction of the...

Mr. Speaker, the Minister clearly has a keen grasp on the issues facing affordable power in the Northwest Territories, but I don’t hear much of a plan to deal with them. Can the Minister share with this House some of the ideas he has on dealing with this problem moving ahead and perhaps on how we’re going to build on the NTPC’s success with renewables specifically, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation said, first and most importantly, this change to the board of directors of the Power Corporation will save ratepayers $1 million per year. My question for the Minister today is: that million dollars, how are ratepayers going to see that coming off their bills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, this budget offers quite a few things Members of this House can get behind. One aspect in particular is investing $16.6 million in new federal funding for affordable housing projects with the intent of providing residents of the NWT with an increased number of households that are not only contemporary in all relevant safety standards, but more importantly, and all too rarely seen in the North, affordable. This is by all means a noble measure of this government to tackle the cost of living and will benefit a number of families in Yellowknife and in all our communities, but, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the only… Well, I'm eager to see the strategy roll out and I hope that committee will be, and I'm sure that committee will be consulted. I hope also we do some public engagement of this and get it out to the scientific community and not just here, in the Northwest Territories, but in people doing northern research across Canada and potentially in international organizations, as well. I would encourage the department to actually look at those partners and not just keep it inhouse and keep it in this building, as well, because those are the people we want to bring...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I note under this activity we've got the science agenda indicated. I'm wondering what the department's efforts are in regards to attracting more scientific research investment in the Northwest Territories. We have untapped potential to attract more research opportunities here and if the department's role in leading the science agenda is looking at ways to open the Northwest Territories up to more research opportunities and investment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.