Debates of October 18, 2006 (day 10)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I was reading my Member’s statement earlier today to talk about other provinces offering smart environmental consumer programs, hopefully I was beginning to make it a little obvious that the NWT was lacking from that list, Mr. Speaker. So everyone is doing something but the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I believe in good environmental practices. I certainly believe in good environmental programs that speak to that. So, Mr. Speaker, with that said, I would like to hear from the Minister of Environment. Can he tell me today what incisive actions his department is taking to help the everyday person reduce fuel consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Return To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some of the examples are the participation and the development of community energy plans from Norman Wells, Yellowknife and other communities, including Fort Smith, Enterprise, Gameti, Deline and Fort McPherson. This is a critical first step that will allow communities to look at what their energy consumption patterns are. Whati is also on the list. They are sort of a model community of all of the steps they have taken to try to save energy in terms of efficient furnaces, low energy and low water, fluorescent bulbs and those types of things. We are working with photovoltaic solar power and energy solutions and options in Colville Lake. We work with people to get their houses assessed to see where the energy leaks may be and what kind of simple steps like re-caulking may be required to cut their efficiencies. The other published information gives people very simple tips such as possibly turning down the temperature of your hot water tank. If you leave town for any length of time, turn it off. I would also like to commend the Member. I know he drives a hybrid vehicle, which combines gas and electric which is another step towards conserving energy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, those were excellent answers from the Minister, except we were talking about linking program money to get actions. The Community Energy Program is certainly one of them and this government is leading that initiative to get that done, but it’s lacking in the funding to actually implement it. So, Mr. Speaker, speaking of implementing new programs that help the everyday person, Mr. Speaker, can I get a commitment from this Minister to look into developing a program that would develop financial incentives for people to buy things like hybrid vehicles, wood stoves or wood pellet stoves? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member raises a good point and I know that we can give the same incentive that B.C. does. For sure, the incentive will be we have no sales tax and that won’t be a burden on the purchase of the vehicle, the very same incentive that B.C. is giving. It would be one step that we could make. I would also like to point out that when it comes to energy savings, conservation and protecting the environment, in my opinion, part of the incentive should be that virtue should be its own reward in this case where you know you are doing the right thing for very little money.

The one problem we do have, Mr. Speaker, is the resources that we do have are fully subscribed for. It would be nice to be able to look at something in the boreal forest area, for example, in terms of incentives for wood heat. That is an issue that we have out there. It’s just depending on the resources available. We are still waiting to hear from the federal government what their new Green Plan II is going to be, their Clean Air Act. Minister Lund from NRCan has indicated that they do have funding that was formally booked from the Liberal government that was there. It was to help communities and jurisdictions with environmentally friendly energy solutions. That, as well, has not yet been rolled back out so that we know how to subscribe to that. Should that occur, we will definitely have those kinds of options on our list. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would have to ask the Minister if he could explore the B.C. solution. He was saying something along the lines that we could do that. He did point out that we don’t offer PST and they do and they look at rolling back the PST, so the consumer can save. So I am not sure where we can really benefit from that. The Minister did say something along the lines of resources being a problem. I will tell you, I put my priorities in order personally and I think the government should. Mr. Speaker, we have a department that spends over $50 million, at least 40 percent of that is wages. We know through the Finance/Human Resource Minister that there is always a general, territorial-wide 17 percent average on employees. So there must be a little money that isn’t being spent. So, Mr. Speaker, I am asking the Minister for the Environment, could he look into that and commit today that he will find ways to make small programs available to the regular person? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Member will recollect, last year there was a package of programs and subsidies and incentives that we did have. That money was voted by this Legislature to do the very things the Member asked. There were a lot of good ideas in there and the ideas the Member has mentioned are good ideas. We have them on our list and we are always looking for ways to implement them. As I indicated, if there is an opportunity to access federal money that will allow us to do that, we will do that. I will ask the deputy, as well, to check to see if we have some unsubscribed programs that may be better reprofiled in the areas the Member has suggested. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we always have lists that we study to death. What I am asking for is a clear commitment from this Minister today. Yes or no; will we put action behind this? Will we make this a decisive decision in this House today to find ways to find good sensible programs for people to help them make environmentally sound choices? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Miltenberger.

Further Return To Question 120-15(5): Energy Efficiency Programs

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we want the same thing and I believe we have a number of initiatives that are addressing that. The Member has asked for another basket of incentives over and above that. I have committed to try to identify that. If we have ways of reprofiling any of our dollars and if there are any other federal dollars that may come available, we will look at trying to access those. I do believe that community energy plans, minor hydro projects like they are looking at in Whati and Lutselk’e, are very important and will affect the man on the street, the person who lives in the communities in a very clear, immediate way. Thank you.