Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going back to my questions from my Member’s statement again. Back in the 15th Assembly there was a Member for Sahtu. He used to speak on many occasions of NTPC because his communities were hardest hit. He had some excellent ideas, by the way.
I’d like to ask the current Minister if he’s acting on any of these excellent ideas that the former Member for Sahtu brought up in the 15th Assembly.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. That’s a pretty vague question, but I’ll allow the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation to respond. Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Member for Twin Lakes, for reminding me in terms of some of my earlier discussions in the House. The Member is correct, and those ideas are still alive and well. Certainly, I’m very happy the Premier has asked if I would work with the other Members in terms of the energy file. Our committee is looking at the options of: how do we bring the cost of energy down to an acceptable rate for people in our smaller communities, who rely on a good power source in terms of reducing their cost of living?
Mr. Speaker, going back to NTPC and the bonuses paid to senior management, I’d like to ask the Minister if those are based on the overall surplus or the surplus minus what goes back to the Territorial Power Subsidy.
As the Member is well aware, this was at one time and possibly still is an issue to be discussed. The corporation has had consultants, has had some experts look at the bonus system. We now have an at-risk pay system for our senior management. We have made a huge reduction in terms of at-risk payments in terms of work to our senior management team. This was brought forward to the Public Utilities Board, which reviewed it and gave the stamp of approval for our operations within the NTPC management.
The Beaufort-Delta Regional Council passed a motion, as I mentioned before. I’d like to ask the Minister: do we have to pass a formal motion in the House requesting that the Auditor General audit NTPC, or can the Minister provide that direction or ask the Auditor General to do that?
The Member raises a very good point. Our last financial statement books were audited by the Auditor General of Canada. Certainly, if it’s the wish of the House, I would make a request to the board in terms of the Auditor General looking at our books again and looking at specific issues that could be raised, to have some further discussions in terms of our operation in the Crown corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure if he answered my question. I’d like to ask the Minister: would this House have to pass a formal motion to request the Auditor General audit the NTPC?
Mr. Speaker, I do apologize for not answering directly to the Member. If the House does wish to pass a motion to have the Auditor General look into our Crown corporation, if it pleases the House.... We have accountants, and we have the Public Utilities Board that scrutinizes very well in terms of our operations. If he does have a motion in the House, that is something we certainly will look at.
