I want to lend support to the Member for Mackenzie Delta with respect to the one-rate zone. That's a topic that's near and dear to myself and all the people in Nahendeh. We've been struggling a lot in the last couple of years, particularly the residents and the businesses. I don't know if the government is going to include this in part of their evaluation of cost savings and assisting us with the cost of living.
I want to know, perhaps from the Minister of PUB, where they're at with evaluating the one-rate zone, or levelized rate zones, for the Northern residents.
The question was to the Minister Responsible for the Public Utilities Board, but I…. Mr. Roland.
The question is best put to ourselves, or at least myself, at this point.
The Public Utilities Board will review under existing conditions and operations. At one point, questions were asked about the PUB and a one-rate zone. The PUB has put it on record that they're working with the existing rate structure that's in place. If we're to change that, it would have to be directed from this level, this Assembly. That is something that would be looked at.
We have a number of factors. One of those is the strategic initiatives committee on reducing the cost of living. That will be looking at a number of factors across the North — energy and how we deal with that. The refocusing piece is another piece. We also have an Energy Ministers committee that will look at a number of factors. There are a number of opportunities there that we can review as to how we direct the next stage.
I'd like to thank the Premier for answering that question. That's a very important one. We should examine that, because I do believe there is enough support from Members on this side of the House to be moving forward to some kind of revitalized electricity rate structure out there. We are living with an old, archaic system that I believe needs changes and needs reviewing, and I hope this government can look at that.
Once again, does the Premier commit to having a good look at our rate structure and reviewing it for this year?
In the process we would look at for doing that, there are potentially two areas: our energy committee of Ministers, as well as reducing the cost of living, which is an initiative underneath the plans. We would like to go with that plan. Those processes would involve Members. As well, recommendations from Members of this House back to us could help us in adding that to the work that's going to be reviewed.
Absolutely, you will get lots of support. As well, the Member for Mackenzie Delta did mention that we'll be moving a motion in this sitting of the House to help direct the government in that direction. Once again, it is hurting our communities; it’s hurting our businesses. In fact, in one of my smaller communities, Wrigley, a store shut down in the fall because they couldn't sustain the O&M from power rates. That’s something that needs immediate attention. Once again, I ask the government to have a serious review and look at this important issue. Mahsi.
The high cost of energy is a serious issue in the North for a lot of our communities, smaller communities, as well as the forced growth costs of the government that we deal with. It is an area where we will have to do a review. We’ll have to look at options, and options will be presented, whether it is in rate structure or structure of our power support program — all of those factors would have to be reviewed and the options presented to Members to see where we go in this area.
