Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we need a complete rethink of how we meet the energy needs of our residents and businesses. Messing about trying to tweak electricity rates to redistribute costs, reviewing yet again our Power Corporation with no creative guidance and ignoring community partnerships goes nowhere towards addressing our real problems and opportunities. A smart approach to meeting today’s energy needs can serve a range of important government priorities.
The unfortunate circumstances of depressed local economies, rising energy costs and impacts of environmental issues dictate the need for energy services that meet these issues head on. We need utility structures and energy strategies that reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, provide local economic and skill development and reduce our environmental impacts. Fostering partnerships with our communities and regional corporations to provide clean energy to meet total energy needs can achieve these goals while increasing affordability of energy, revenues to utilities and ability of the public to pay.
Times are changing and real leadership for progressive responses is required. We have studied small hydro development for years, but where is it? Small hydro, biomass and solar power will eventually meet many of our energy needs while serving broad government goals, but where is this reflected in any of our thinking on utility restructuring and capacity? We have made a few initial steps within government infrastructure, but where is any implementation on a community level? And where is the recognition and integration of these realities in any of the costly reviews we have underway?
The huge opportunities for increased energy efficiency are glossed over in our reviews. Where is the energy efficiency strategy, particularly electrical efficiency? The Arctic Energy Alliance has demonstrated that investment in converting electric hot water heaters to oil fired in thermal communities could save the NWT taxpayers and ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars, and this is just one example. Moving to clean energy, electricity for heating and to power vehicles are increasingly strong global responses to climate change and fuel prices, but it takes foresight and planning to reap the benefits. Where is the recognition of these trends? Where is the time of day pricing policies commonly employed elsewhere to bring new system efficiencies, increased affordability and improved revenues to utilities?
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.
Mr. Speaker, NTPC is a government-owned provider directed by GNWT and we have not provided written guidance to them since 2005. A close look at our review work to date is not inspiring. It is my fervent hope that rather than getting stuck in the same mould approaches, we will clearly see the need for energy services that reflect our values, recognize our scales and serve our priorities within the realities of today’s challenges. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions of the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
