Robert Hawkins

I want to thank the fine, old Minister because he was calling me young Member yesterday. So the very old and elderly Minister of NWT Power Corporation of pointing out the budget dialogue that he read. By the way, I followed it keenly word for word, I enjoyed reading and I will enjoy reading it for years to come if I ever get sleepless and have to find ways to cure that.

---Laughter

On a serious note, though, it’s my understanding that some hydro communities are subsidized. Rather than pointing out a particular hydro community, one over another, maybe the Minister can put officially on the record...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s an honour to recognize constituents in this House, as every Member enjoys. I would like to recognize Pertice Moffat, who is a constituent of Yellowknife Centre. I would also like to first say thanks to the Status of Women Council for the excellent initiative that they launched. I often have said to get more women elected, you have to get them to campaign and this is exactly what it’s doing, getting people out there and giving them the right tools. So, specifically, Lorraine Phaneuf and Annemieke Mulders are constituents of Yellowknife Centre.

Finally, I want to...

Knowing the rules of the House as I do, I can’t speak to a specific example made in committee once, but the deputy minister said if they have money left over for a particular initiative, they just keep it. So that’s the point of this exercise and why I’m asking about this particular money, to make sure it’s accounted for properly. If all the money isn’t required – we went on good faith to support it – we’d like to see what isn’t used and returned to the good balances of the people of the Northwest Territories.

As far as reporting it, I’d be personally satisfied if you could report it when it’s...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask some questions to the Minister of the NWT Power Corporation. Oddly enough, it’s not actually on rates, so those concerned can feel comfortable it’s not about that or, yeah, those who can feel a little at ease.

Late last year we were given the terribly shocking news that the government may have to look at bailing out the potential rate rider that would have carried about $20 million on the Power Corporation, and that would have been about $10 million each year. Since that time of the experience that led us to the particular problem, oil prices have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today because I want to draw attention to yesterday, which was World Cancer Day. February 4th each year is World Cancer Day, and it’s an important day that we all must acknowledge.

Yesterday might have been World Cancer Day, but the truth is, every day is cancer day for someone or someone’s family. Just look around us. Even this Chamber has not gone untouched. We have people in this room and we even have people in our gallery who have overcome the struggle of cancer.

Cancer is not just an individual disease; it is certainly a family one. Whether we know them...

Any savings is certainly good. Usually when Members approve a supplementary appropriation, we usually say goodbye to the money because we never see it again. The issue really is about accounting, and I’m glad to hear it’s going to be drawn down by bills and actuals.

When can the territorial residents and, more particular, when can the Members see the accounting of at least this first year? It’s difficult to predict next year, but when can we see the accounting and results of that particular money, because we want to make sure this money is being spent on what it’s intended for. Who knows where...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my good colleagues here, I too wish to recognize one of our favourite territorial constituents, Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford, and he certainly was one of the people I was thinking about as those who have survived the day-to-day struggle with cancer.

As well, I’d like to acknowledge Darrell Beaulieu, the CEO of Denendeh Development Corp. As well, he is our BDIC chair and we could be talking about his resume here all day.

Sitting next to him is Margaret Gorman, who probably is the lady that makes it all happen and I’d like to thank her for attending, too, today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to this opportunity to get some clarity on some of our power rates here. The cost of living burden continues to weigh down on the everyday family, as we all know and we certainly hear about this. The question really continues to come to me is this McLeod government continuing to do the best that they can, and the question that arises is they’re concerned they’re not. Everybody knows the three components to the power issue, which is generation, distribution and certainly the customer access.

So I guess the question really comes down to, while we continue to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Northwest Territories government was to eliminate any outside distributors and, at the time, the reason I ask this question is because I’ve been talking to the department about this one. So, what analysis has been done if we eliminate the outside distributors, therefore we don’t necessarily need a PUB and we roll the NWT Power Corporation into a department? Now, normally you describe this as a hypothetical, but this is work I know the department has been reviewing and evaluating. Where would this take us and what’s the predicted or estimated cost of lowering the...

Well, Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure Mrs. Groenewegen has a point of order. First of all, the company isn’t particularly named. Second of all, the profits that they’re able to make are listed through the PUB process, so that is public information, and when they’re earning millions and millions of dollars one can describe it with whatever adjectives they reasonably feel.

That said, Mrs. Groenewegen should also come clear with her connection, if there is any that we need to get on the record, a reason why she is defending the company. I don’t understand what may or may not be, but a few minutes ago I...