Bonjour, Mr. Speaker.
---Laughter
Mr. Speaker, following up to my statements on the innovation of new technology coming north, it is a far advancement to the cabin dad had.
My first question here is: if the SIP panels are such an innovative proven technology with reductions to the utility costs of the homes, what is the NWT Housing Corporation doing with this proven technology for continuance to the SIP model homes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member is quite right. The NWT Housing Corporation has utilized the structural insulation panels in the past and, most recently, for communities in the Sahtu region. We are going to continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the SIP panels in these units, but I anticipate that there will be gains in energy efficiency and see how we can utilize the structural insulation panels in other communities in the Northwest Territories, especially ones where we do see high costs of the utility costs.
Yesterday, I had questions from another Member, and we talked about the user-pay power system. I mentioned that with that user-pay power system, we have also seen an 8 percent decrease in fuel consumption, which that funding actually goes back into programs we run through NWT Housing Corporation. We are going to continue to monitor and evaluate these solar panels. I am sure we are going to see some really good results, then hopefully continue to use them in other communities as one of our goals is to create energy-efficient homes, adequate, safe, and affordable homes, as well.
Thanks to the Minister for the reply here. I think we're going in the right direction. We know there's a demand for this technology in the smaller communities where you have already high utility costs for the livelihood of the homeowner. Given the demand that's out there, is the Housing Corporation working with the manufacturing companies already in the North to improve on a supply-chain manufacturing system for these SIP panel homes?
To be honest, I think it's too early to say. We've got to do our evaluation, monitor the SIP home, the solar panels, as well as, like I said, we have to do the research and continue to monitor and evaluate before we look at expanding the program, but we are anticipating that we are going to see some energy efficiencies, and hopefully we can move forward with this.
Most recently, as well the Member knows, we did sit down with the Deline Got'ine Government around other housing infrastructure needs, as well as promoting our housing programs and how we can work together. Right now, it's too early to say. We are going to continue to evaluate and research before we make those decisions. Right now, I am pretty sure that we are going to anticipate some savings and we will continue work with the communities and the local governments as well as keep the Member apprised of those evaluations.
Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Minister for that reply here. That leads to my other question that the Minister touched on here. I was going to encourage the Minister to give a strong consideration in viewing the end product that's already in Deline and witness the consumption and reductions through the receipts of the utility bills for those homes and schedule a manufacturing conference or meeting in Deline with some of the potential manufacturing in the North. Would the Minister commit to initiating that workshop, if you want to call it, in Deline between the Deline Got'ine Government, the public, and the manufacturing companies? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As I mentioned, it is a little bit too early to say what we are going to do in terms of expansion of this program. We have to evaluate. We already had an initial discussion with the Deline Got'ine Government on a lot of our housing programs and how we can work together as well as work with the federal government.
We do want to support our communities, as well as the communities that have the highest utility costs, and address our cost of living. I am committed to continuing that work, but we are going to need to look at the evaluation and continue to monitor before we decide what our next steps are. As I mentioned, early onset, we are seeing some really good results. We will commit to working with the communities that we have installed these structural insulated panels, the ones that we installed in north Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Deline, and Colville Lake. We will continue to work with the Member moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
