Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement today was in regard to the Minister responsible for the NWTPC. Since we are still in this pandemic of COVID-19, is the Minister prepared to instruct the board for making exemptions to late payments to the power bill and to ensure disconnections and late fees, once this pandemic is done, making sure that the date from, say, August to the end of April, our coldest months of the year, making sure people are not put on power limiters, and getting rid of the power limiter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've heard the Member and other Members in this House here about limiters and the impact it has on our residents. As soon as the COVID-19 pandemic happened, we stopped limiters and we did not ask people to be charged or making them pay because of their needs. We're working with the people right now and trying to make sure that they are treated fairly and are looked after. As for what we're doing with limiters, as I've said previously in this House, we are looking at that issue. We are researching across Canada to see what it is and to make sure that we are being fair for all of our residents in the Northwest Territories.
I ask the Minister if he is prepared to stop using limiters across our territory and to discontinue use. It's really belittling to people. I know it's a tough situation. People in the communities are really affected by this, and it's pretty tough to cook for families; like I said, planning for the winter already. COVID-19 is still here. Pandemic is still here. Why are we charging them? Why is the ministry able to push aside the bills, the power bills for the communities, and then, come September sitting, I'll be making a motion in the House to get rid of all the power bills and charge it to COVID-19. That would be the best way to do it. Is the Minister willing to do that?
Unfortunately, no. What we are trying to do is we are trying to understand how limiters have been operated across Canada. What we're trying to do is come up with a system that works for all residents. We are working with residents right now, with their power bills. If they need to, we try to give them avenues how they can get their power bills paid through ECE. We are also working with them to come up with a budgeting process that they pay a little bit more during the summertime so that their wintertime costs are not hitting them as big as it is. We're working with the clients. We're working with the system right now. I want to be able to make an informed decision because, if we don't, we're going to be having a whole bunch of people disconnected during the summertime, and we don't want to do that. We have made a commitment to take no limiters right now during the COVID-19. We're not charging interest on late power bills. We're working with the constituents. I've heard the Members from the other side, and we're trying to work the best we can with the system right now. I've made a commitment previously. We will work with the communities as we get this information.
Just in regard to the limiters and to the bills for the communities, is it possible to get it under COVID-19? I'm going to ask that for my Finance Minister, if we could write that off? I have a few other things I would like to bring forward to write off, too, for the people. It's the only right thing to do. The Minister is responsible for the bureaucrats that are these board of directors. He could instruct them. They work for him. Tell them. Work together in regard to making it better for the people and the costing of our power corporation. Again, from August to April, we can't have those for the weather up in the Delta and in my riding. It's the coldest months of the year. Make sure that we are working with them to get through once this COVID-19 is over. It looks like it's a long way off because of no vaccine.
Yes, I will work with the Finance Minister to see if we can reach out to the federal government. Right now, we can't make a promise to do that. What I've made a promise in this House is we will work with the other side and people to make sure we look at this issue and to come up with an informed decision. As for the board, they are independent. They have the right to come up with their collective response. We're working with them. I believe the board has heard the concerns and we are moving forward on this. Yes, I will work with the Finance Minister. There is my "yes" for the day. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.
Yes. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When will the House see results of the work that the Minister tells us he has asked his deputy minister to do, developing options and reconstructing the Northwest Territories Power Corporation? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I was waiting for this question. I thank the Member for asking that. The board is working on it, and we are hopefully having it by the end of this month in something we can present in June. We are working on this. They are looking again across Canada to see how the boards are done, operated. Again, what we are trying to do is make sure it is an informed decision and work with committee on it. At the end of the day, it's about working together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
