Debates of June 7, 2006 (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for Mr. Roland as the Minister for Public Works and Services and the department that has historically had, I understand, a kind of a watchdog capacity for regulatory matters, and that would include, I'm assuming, Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Radio/Television Telecommunications Commission. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has kept an eye on these kinds of regulatory matters. There are hearings scheduled for Whitehorse next month on a major new regulatory framework for NorthwesTel, the major service provider of telecommunication services across the Canadian North. Mr. Speaker, is the GNWT going to intervene and what positions are we taking to the CRTC on behalf of NWT consumers, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, Public Works and Services is involved in monitoring CRTC hearings throughout Canada to see if in fact there will be impacts on service that's provided in the Northwest Territories, and we will be presenting our case in Whitehorse regarding a number of issues in the Northwest Territories and how our service provider here in the Northwest Territories operates. I'm not in a position to get right into a lot of the detail at this stage. Number one is we'd like to put our position on the table without having other groups who are concerned about the operating environment. For example, I'll give a case; the issue of the high cost service areas that we were involved with in the past and were successful in having NorthwesTel designated to operate in those areas, and had some funds from southern operators move to the North. We know southern operators would prefer not to do that and are preparing their submissions and arguments, and we are again preparing our side of the equation for continued service in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Mr. Speaker, does that mean we are going to defend NorthwesTel's, in effect, monopoly here for at least some of the communities, and we're going to continue asking the CRTC to protect that monopoly through regulatory affairs, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that fact is that NorthwesTel is the only largest service provider in the Northwest Territories for our phone systems, aside from cell phones and so on. We are of the opinion that the Northwest Territories is a high cost service area, and that needs to be recognized and continue to be recognized. If it happens to be NorthwesTel operating here, they'll be the company that would benefit. If we have other companies who want to get involved in the North, we would look at that as well. Our position is that the Northwest Territories is a high cost area and the rates across the country need to take that into consideration, much like what's already done and the results of that.

There are a number of other issues that we will be looking at as well. But as I stated earlier, we've prepared our presentation and we'll be delivering that in Whitehorse. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

I should try not to read between the lines here because I just might make a mistake. I respect the Minister's situation here where he can't put too many of the cards on the table right now. But I guess the point that I want to make, Mr. Chairman, is that we've seen so many innovations and so many new ways of doing business crop up in the last few years since the last regulatory framework was set up, that I believe we should really be more open and in fact more aggressive in seeing what other options there are out there. So, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know what the government can do to convince the CRTC to make this jurisdiction more competition friendly, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I guess one of the areas that we are involved with and would continue to support would help any service provider in the Northwest Territories, is the subsidies that were granted by the CRTC for northern operators and long distance calls and operating those facilities. At this time, we have one major provider in the Northwest Territories for hard line services. If there are other companies interested in that, those types of arrangements would only help their operating structures. So the positions we would put forward, yes, in this case would benefit one company as they are the main service provider. If other companies were to get involved, we'd want to ensure that the environment for that was open enough to create that type of competition. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Mr. Speaker, has the GNWT consulted with any of the major user groups in the NWT, like the business or the mining industry communities, other levels of government and consumers, to really verify that its positions are going to be the ones that accurately reflect what we want to have put before the CRTC? What is the level of consultation that we have undertaken, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 76-15(5): Telecommunications Services In The North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have the detail as to who we actually were in discussions with. I know we monitored the situation and other CRTC hearings for those types of decisions that would have impact on the service providers in the Northwest Territories. I can get that information for the Member and provide it later. Thank you.