Mr. Speaker, later today at the appropriate time, I will table a public discussion paper, entitled A Vision for Energy in the Northwest Territories: Developing the 2013 Northwest Territories Energy Plan. This paper is the first component of a multi-step process that will lead to the development of the 2013 Energy Plan. Residents, business, municipal governments, Aboriginal organizations and community groups are all invited to read this document and submit their comments to the government. The paper lays out five key questions on which the Government of the Northwest Territories is asking the public for their input.
We have been working with the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure throughout this process and appreciate their input and advice. We look forward to your continued involvement as we move forward with the development of the Energy Plan.
As part of the feedback process, we are also asking the public to fill out a brief survey on what government should prioritize in the maintenance and future development of our energy systems. The survey is available on the Industry, Tourism and Investment website.
As a key part of our engagement and feedback process, the GNWT will host the 2012 Northwest Territories Energy Charrette on November 20, 2012, in Yellowknife. This stakeholder engagement and policy development event will include two open sessions, which will allow the public the opportunity to interact with energy experts, energy utility representatives, public servants and other charrette delegates. MLAs Mr. Bob Bromley and Mr. Michael Nadli have been invited to this event and we are looking forward to their participation and input.
Outside of the open sessions, delegates from various levels of government, Aboriginal development corporations, energy utilities, non-government organizations, as well as energy experts will all collaborate to help the GNWT create its energy agenda for the 17th Legislative Assembly and beyond. The delegates will share ideas, suggest investment criteria, and map out an implementation plan for the GNWT’s consideration. All of this work will be summarized in the charrette final report, which will be publicly released in mid-December 2012.
After this important stakeholder engagement process is finished, the GNWT will use the results of the energy charrette to finalize the Energy Plan, which will be released in March 2013. The Energy Plan will firmly lay out the energy vision and policies of the GNWT, as well as provide details on spending initiatives and government priorities.
Mr. Speaker, this government has invested heavily and made a great deal of progress in the past four years to increase the availability of local and renewable energy options for the residents and businesses of the Northwest Territories, while diminishing the role that imported, expensive diesel fuel plays in our energy supply mix.
I am confident that the government’s collaborative approach, which focuses on stakeholder engagement and a transparent policy development process, will reinvigorate this vital sector of the NWT’s economy, and continue to create sustainable and reliable energy systems for all of the territory’s 33 communities.
Working together, we can, and will, develop an Energy Plan aimed at stabilizing the costs of energy for our communities and reducing our carbon footprint. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Abernethy.
