Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are addressed to the Chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, Mr. McLeod. I stated in my Member’s statement that there needs to be a fundamental change to the NWT Power Corporation. We’re at the beginning of a review, as we’ve heard several times, that’s going to look at electricity rates, regulation and subsidies. But in terms of the Power Corporation itself, I’d like to ask the Minister: what kind of analysis is being undertaken for the NWT Power Corporation as part of this review?
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware that the Member has asked the Chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, but I can respond as well in this area. We sat down together and looked at those options of what work is being done. We’re in the early stages of setting out options around regulation and around power structures and so on.
I think it will be when we have that paper delivered to Members and start to discuss what Members would like to see happening, with options, for example, that Members have discussed here. We’re open to looking at a whole number of initiatives that can have a serious look at the Power Corporation itself and how we deliver energy in the North.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the Minister for the answer. I am concerned, though. My question is specifically related to the structure of the Power Corporation and how it operates as a business. Not having seen the terms of reference for this particular review, I’d like to get some sense from the Minister as to what kinds of things, what kinds of analyses, are going to be done on the corporation as a business under this review.
Mr. Speaker, the review is quite open to a whole number of options. We can decide here, as an Assembly, what should be undertaken. The business operation in the existing framework is quite clear — the structure that we have to operate in. Again, as I said earlier, it is up to this Assembly if we want to change that; for example, the act that the Power Corporation acts under and how the PUB regulates the industry in the Northwest Territories. There are a number of things, right from programs we as the GNWT deliver. The Power Corporation itself is open to what the Members would like to consider in the review in that area.
We’ve heard about this review for some time now. I had understood, though, when it was originally put forward, that it was going to be well underway at this point. It sounds now as though it’s going to be some time before we get anywhere. From the Premier’s last answer, it sounds as though the terms of reference are not out there. Can I ask when we might expect the results of this particular review?
Mr. Speaker, the process we’re involved with incorporates more than just the Power Corporation itself. It takes in the whole gamut of power generation, distribution, regulation, the Territorial Power Support Program. That’s why we’re in the process here of coming up with a document. We should be ready, hopefully, before Christmas. We’ll be able to sit down with Members and go through the work that’s been done and what it entails and seek further direction from Members as well in that area.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Mr. Speaker, I guess I would try to push the Premier to fast track this project if at all possible. It is obviously one that is very dear to everyone’s hearts, and we all feel it in our pocketbooks.
My last question. I don’t know whether the review is considering changes to legislation for the PUB, but I would like to ask the Minister what priority he puts on changes to the legislation for the Public Utilities Board.
Mr. Speaker, the PUB is, as well, part of this overall process that we would look at if there are changes that are required — again, the PUB as the regulator of the industry — and if we would look at any changes or how they would continue to, I guess in a sense, police the industry here in the Northwest Territories. That is one of the areas being looked at. We provide that to Members as to the direction we’re going in and seek either support or further work in that area.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
