Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. Just getting back to what I stated earlier in my Member’s statement -- and I did raise it before in this House -- the issue of flooding when the Taltson River, the dam is opening or closing to allow for more power during peak periods and low periods. Mr. Speaker, the Minister came back to me. He did say earlier that he wanted some evidence. I do have some evidence right here, Mr. Speaker. This is evidence right here. It clearly shows that a cabin is flooded out. There are doghouses under water. Not only do hunters and trappers get flooded out, but also a lot of wildlife suffer because of the changes in the water levels during the winter season, Mr. Speaker. It clearly states in the NWT Power Corporation water licence that community consultations have to occur when there are going to be changes in water levels and people downstream have to be informed by the Power Corporation. To date, the people can’t even remember when the Power Corporation was last in the community to even tell them when any changes were going to occur to any kind of water levels that were going to be happening in the Taltson River. I just want to ask the Minister, can he commit to putting out a directive to the NWT Power Corporation that they have a legal obligation, under the water licence, to ensure that they go into these communities and inform the hunters and trappers that the water levels will be changing, especially around December when the peak period goes up? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Return To Question 94-15(6): Taltson River Water Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can direct the department to notify communities when the water levels will be raised by way of raising the water in the dam. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 94-15(6): Taltson River Water Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take the Minister to task on that because, basically, he told me that before and nothing has happened to date. The people want to know that the Power Corporation really does care about what they are doing to the trapping grounds. They would like to see even the president of the Power Corporation go into the communities, have a community meeting there, and let them know when the dams are going to open the floodgates and when they are going to close them. The safety concerns that are raised at the community levels are always coming back to me and the issue of damage to the wildlife is really big with the people around there, Mr. Speaker. I am going to ask the Minister again, when is this directive going to go out? Can the communities get a copy of that directive? We can then set some dates for some consultation periods. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Krutko.

Further Return To Question 94-15(6): Taltson River Water Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Suffice to the Member, I will do up a letter, cc it to all the communities, direct it to the president of the corporation to ensure that they have these consultations, inform the communities when they are going to release any water from the Taltson hydro facility which may affect the water levels downstream. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Short supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 94-15(6): Taltson River Water Levels

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will thank the Minister for that. I look forward to seeing the letter and seeing some kind of a formal directive to the Power Corporation that this just is not a one-time occurrence. This happens every year, Mr. Speaker, and it is going to continue as long as the dam is there. So this is not just a one-time thing; it has to go on every year. The consultations and the water levels are going to change at different times of the year with this new expansion possibly happening. There are going to be different peak periods happening. So I would like this as an ongoing initiative by the Power Corporation to ensure that they are practising or operating the dam in good faith for the people downstream. Thank you.