Debates of May 10, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier in terms of the very disturbing meeting I had with the Town of Norman Wells, also some of the Regular MLAs that pass through here, that shocking crisis that the town of Norman Wells is at the beck and call of Imperial Oil in terms of turning off their gas by April 2008, April 1st. Shame on Imperial Oil. I want to ask the Government of the Northwest Territories, Imperial Oil, asking Imperial Oil to come up here and justify why they made this move. Shame on Imperial Oil. I want to ask the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Premier, what is he doing to help the community of Norman Wells and the people of the Northwest Territories? Pipeline not good for me.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the deadline Imperial gave us, of course, is determined by the amount of gas that’s there. We know the Norman Wells field is a field that is gradually being depleted. That’s the challenge with fossil fuels, is that at some point they run out. So, Mr. Speaker, we will be asking Esso for more information on why it’s necessary to cut back on the supply to the town. My understanding is that they are providing fuel to the Power Corporation. However, Mr. Speaker, the alternatives are complex. We need to get more information and I’m sure that the denouement of this situation is going to be one that’s beneficial to everybody. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The town of Norman Wells was told that Imperial Oil were going to reduce their gas consumption in terms of supplying the town of Norman Wells. They were shocked that Imperial Oil said the reduction will be zero. Now that causes a huge crisis in my community of Norman Wells, in the region. Then Imperial Oil says, come on you guys, the pipeline is a good thing for us, sign on and let’s do something. How does Imperial Oil drag the people of Norman Wells through this, I don’t know what to call it, Mr. Speaker, but I’m asking can this government here demand to have the president of Imperial Oil come up here and meet with the Town of Norman Wells, meet with us and say is this how Imperial Oil does business with people in the Northwest Territories and hold them hostage to the community of Norman Wells? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, we want to meet with the town. I understand the town has hired a consultant. I understand our Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been dealing with other departments in our government to figure out what’s the best solution for this problem we could face in April 2008. Mr. Speaker, in terms of Imperial Oil’s involvement, yes, we will let them know. I will raise this with them when I have opportunity and we will insist that they come and provide an explanation. I assume, Mr. Speaker, that they’ve already planned to do that in Norman Wells, but I can’t speak for them. However, we want to hear from them as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think Imperial Oil’s model, their way of thinking, is profit over people. That’s been there since 1920. Shame on them. It’s a crying shame that in this day and age Imperial Oil can do this to the people of the Northwest Territories. You know, Norman Wells is a prime example of Imperial Oil going in there, taking out what it has to do to benefit its company and leave the community. So I’m really, really angry that this could happen in this day and age. I’m asking the Government of the Northwest Territories in terms of how do we help the community of Norman Wells, you know, because Imperial Oil told them the cut-off date is April 1, 2008. I’m not too sure if that’s an April Fool’s joke or that’s a reality for the people of Norman Wells. I asked the Premier, through a letter, that he would get to meet the people in Norman Wells with the appropriate Ministers to see what can be done as soon as possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The appropriate government departments are already discussing this within our government along with the Power Corporation. It’s not as urgent with the Power Corporation because we do have a purchase agreement up to 2010 that’s firm, but we still have to look further ahead down the road. Mr. Speaker, I can assure the Member and this House that we are taking this seriously; we are collecting information and at the appropriate time, once we have our information, then we want to meet both with Imperial Oil and also with the Town of Norman Wells. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand also that the Government of Canada owns one-third of the Norman Wells field. You know, where are they in this business here in terms of helping out our people in the Northwest Territories? You know, the royalties that they collect in Norman Wells, the oilfield has produced billions of dollars for Imperial Oil so the board of directors and shareholders can sit on a nice cushy place in the southern parts of the States here. So, Mr. Speaker, again, I’m demanding that this government here ask the president of Imperial Oil to come up here and sit in this House with us and answer some questions that need to get done. They want to put the pipeline through, and right now a pipeline is not a good thing if they’re going to treat people in the communities of the Sahtu. So, again, Mr. Speaker, I ask if this government here, through the leadership of the Premier, to ask the president to come up, talk to the people in Norman Wells, talk to this Legislative Assembly, and say is this how you’re going to do business in the future. You know, it's David and Goliath time.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 53-15(6): Future Of Norman Wells Gas Field

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the Government of Canada would just turn their one-third share over to us, it would be much easier to resolve this. But, Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak for the federal government and where they are on their share. I expect that Imperial is the operating partner and the majority partner, so they are calling the shots. Mr. Speaker, I will be getting more information on this one. We will be talking with Imperial on it; we will hear what they have to say and at that time decide when, where and how we should meet with the Town of Norman Wells. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.