Debates of May 31, 2006 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of the Public Utilities Board, Mr. McLeod. I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s any residency requirements to sit on the Public Utilities Board according to the act? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Utilities Board, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 16-15(5): Membership On The Public Utilities Board

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, first of all I guess I should point out that all our members that are on the Public Utilities Board, we have five members, all initially were appointed when they were all members of the Northwest Territories, they were all residents of the Northwest Territories. We have now, I believe, two members that no longer reside in the Northwest Territories, but we have the other three people who are from the Northwest Territories. Two recent appointments; one from the Mackenzie Delta and, more recently, one from Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe there is a residency required for appointment to the Public Utilities Board; however, we certainly want our members on the board to be residents from the Northwest Territories. In the case where we have now two members who reside out of the Territories, we decided that it would warrant their stay on the board because of their experience. They spent a lot of time on this board. One member was appointed in 1989 when he was a resident of Inuvik and so is the other member who no longer lives in the Northwest Territories. Both were members from Inuvik. They have a wealth of experience. We needed the people to stay on to ensure that we have a smooth transition because we have three new members as of late. So we wanted them to work together and have a smooth transition. Over the next while, the current chairperson has indicated to me that he would like to step down and look at retirement. We are looking at a time frame to accommodate that and to groom somebody up to the position where we can look at someone filling that position.

I would also like to point out that five of these positions that are there are all part-time positions. I will leave it at that, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 16-15(5): Membership On The Public Utilities Board

That was a long way to say no. Mr. Speaker, initially they did live in the Northwest Territories, but they no longer live in the Northwest Territories. The point I am trying to make is people who live in the Northwest Territories should be the people who are sitting on this board. So I would like to ask the Minister if he would introduce an amendment to the act that requires members of the board to be current residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Hear! Hear!

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister McLeod.

Yes! Yes!

Mr. Chairman, the…

Speaker!

Further Return To Question 16-15(5): Membership On The Public Utilities Board

Mr. Speaker, I’m sorry. The positions on this board are all part-time positions. We have one staff person that supports this board. The nature of the work is very technical, very time consuming. We need people who have the abilities to be able to analyze the applications that come forward, to know the act and they have to be very well versed of what is required in their duties. In this case, we have two people who are currently residing out of the Northwest Territories; however, they have a lot of experience. They spent many years on the board. They know how the board functions. They have indicated that we will work with the two new members. I have to point out, Mr. Speaker, that we did appoint two new members to the board in the last 10 months and they require some assistance while working through the transition period.

We will review. It’s a difficult request that is being placed forward. At times, people move, retire and change where they live. We have to be able to accommodate that without leaving a void if somebody has to resign because they no longer reside in the Territories, but we will consider that. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Time for question period has expired. However, I am going to allow the Member to finish his supplementary questions, but I think I would like to draw attention to Members on both sides of the House that time has expired and two Members have not asked questions yet. So please respect the rules regarding short supplementaries, both questions and answers. Robert McLeod, supplementary.

Supplementary To Question 16-15(5): Membership On The Public Utilities Board

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s answer. I believe that expertise could also be found in the Northwest Territories amongst its current residents. Do we go down south and go to one of the legislative assemblies down there and look for two new Ministers? I don’t think so. I would like to ask the Minister if…There was no notice given to the residents that this increase was coming. March 29th they were told as of April 1st that they would be getting an increase from 1.33 cents to 5.14. Now, for an increase that large should have been, a hearing should be held. I am wondering why there was only two days’ notice and does the Minister review these decisions that are made? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. You are stepping into a different area of questioning here. I will allow the Minister to respond. Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 16-15(5): Membership On The Public Utilities Board

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree that we, in the sense that there are people who have experience in the Northwest Territories and the expertise to sit on the board, we don’t do that when we appoint our Members or Ministers. Certainly we look for what their credentials are and that’s the same as what we do when we look for new Members for the Public Utilities Board. The board was set up by the Public Utilities Act to serve as the expert and independent adjudicator for the rate setting process. It was also set up so that it would be at arm’s length from this government. There is an application process. There is an appeal process that can be followed. I don’t believe there was an appeal filed. Also, in the last while and since 1996, we have moved away from the formal hearing process to what we refer to as a hearing process where we have sent information out through the mail and through public notices, rather than being there in person.

Yes, the final decisions that are made all come through my office as the Minister responsible. Thank you.