Richard Edjericon

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...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to address a passionate issue that concerns us all. Our government has recently intended to raise the power rates to an unacceptable high level, placing undue burden on our hardworking families and businesses. However, I am pleased to inform you that this proposal has been stopped in its tracks by the public utilities board.

Mr. Speaker, before the Minister cries foul that it was the power corporation that pushed for this rate increase, this is arm's length from the Crown corporation. I will remind this House that the board of the power corporation is 100...

Madam Chair, I note that she touched on the Minerals Act. Right now it's also under review to my understanding. But it's also a concern that was also brought to my attention by a member from my community that, you know, there should still be more Aboriginal and Indigenous engagement on this Act, but right now it's what's happening is that they're working behind the scenes it seems like with industry, etcetera. Is it your hope to start working with Indigenous governments and then Denedeh Diamond Corporation, I guess they changed their name now, but in terms of getting some feedback on what...

Thank you, Madam Chairman. Anyways, I'm just thinking about the business incentive policies. In the early days when I was the local housing authority manager in the community in N'dilo, we managed all our housing in our community. We had a block funding agreement with the housing corporation where we agreed to build X amount of units in our community. But we had to follow the business incentive policy which means that we had to buy all cabinets from the North, all the windows from the North, all the screw jacks from the North, all the trusses from the North, etcetera. But what's happening...

And just going forward on page 242 and 243. Again, regional allocation of funding and positions etcetera. I mentioned a few weeks ago as well that we got to I guess I do have a concern in regards to how North Slave is how we're rolled up into the North Slave region, whether it be N'dilo, Dettah. And then the question is where does Lutselk'e fit in, are they a part of the North Slave or South Slave? And in terms of the South Slave region, again, right now from what I was told last time I was going through this is that South Slave is predominantly in Fort Smith and Hay River but so Fort...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So going forward, I guess, I'm just thinking that as claims get done in the North and Indigenous governments want greater control on managing the housing situation in their communities, I guess would your department or are they going to start looking at how they're going to start working with Indigenous governments to fulfilling some of these roles through either agreements that they have either through a block funding agreement or contribution agreements? So sooner or later, this government here has to start recognizing that we are going to have settled claims. And...

Thank you. I only got three minutes and 42 seconds left so I think we'll have that discussion at another day. But I think it's a valid question that, you know, we need to be recognized and that monies that are going into the South Slave region or North Slave region, that it goes in for my riding goes into different regions and it's all over the place so that needs to be recognized.

Anyways, moving forward though, right now as it is as we and you mentioned in your speech today that there's we're going to be closing the mines in the next couple years. And we're going to be looking at new ways...

Okay, thank you. Thank you for that and for clarifying that. I'm not sure when on one hand, you know, when I became the MLA, I represent the four communities of Tu NedheWiilideh, and I'm not sure when are we, the government, you're going to start looking to recognize that, because right now as it is the positions that are on these documents, or the monies that's going to the North or South Slave region, it's really I mean, how much money is it really coming into Dettah and N'dilo, to Lutselk'e and Fort Resolution? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I got a few questions. In regards to your on page 230 and then I go to page 232, in here it talks about South Slave region. As you know, I represent the Tu NedheWiilideh riding, which is four communities. In here, can you explain to me it says fulltime, and there's ten positions. Can you explain to me where are the positions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I had one more a couple quick questions here if I could. In Hay River they have the Aurora Wood Pellets, and they have an arrangement with I guess that company in that's going to made up to look at building wood pellets, etcetera. Would you have any more information on that so you could share with us on that, or is that going to be in Minister Thompson's portfolio? Thank you.