Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Nunakput riding face some of the highest power rates in the Northwest Territories. Living farther north than many other residents in the Northwest Territories also means that our lights have to be on longer in the winter and heating on in our homes for a longer time in the season. The furnaces are on for longer periods of time.
To put this simply, 700 kilowatt hours that are subsidized for Yellowknife rates by the Territorial Power Support Program are not enough. I know of families that are struggling to pay power bills for a modest three bedroom home. Overcrowding in many of our homes means more showers, more loads of laundry and television watching, which means higher power bills. As a father, Mr. Speaker, you know that one of the definitions of a teenager is a young person who does not know how to turn off a light switch. Everything that teenagers do…. The video games, watching videos, listening to music, learning on computers and connecting with the world around them all take power.
I did some quick calculations using information available on the NTPC website that shows the residents of Tuktoyaktuk and Ulukhaktok pay about twice the cost of power of Yellowknife once the subsidy runs out. Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk pay about four times the cost. So for every $100 people in Yellowknife pay, the people I represent are paying $200 to $400 more for the same power amount. This amount is compounded by having to pay the GST on the total of the power bill. When I add this to the cost of home heating fuel, the cost of groceries, the cost of clothing your family and your children, I clearly see that the people I represent are struggling. I believe the power subsidy program is a good program but should be modified to recognize the actual power requirements required to run a modern household in different regions of the Northwest Territories.
I believe, Mr. Speaker, the amount of kilowatt hours subsidized to Yellowknife rates should be raised to 1,000 kilowatts in the communities that I represent.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board Secretariat at the appropriate time.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
