Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.
Traditional sources of public financing alone won't be enough to meet the infrastructure or future infrastructure needs of the NWT, which are large and continue to climb. So my question for the Minister is what efforts are underway to find new sources of finance; for example, increasing the number of power users, tapping private sector funding and expertise through investments or P3s, accessing federal dollars, improving efficiency of existing infrastructure and making smart investments in new infrastructure, or regulatory changes. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Kam Lake. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Industry is changing. Electrification will add new revenue streams to Northwest Territories Power Corporation as customers demand cleaner energy. The federal government and the GNWT have set targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and the increased use of clean hydro, renewable energy for home heating and vehicle use will also assist the GNWT to meet these targets and maximize Northwest Territories Power Corporation hydro and renewable infrastructure investment. Northwest Territories Power Corporation is working with Indigenous governments and communities on ownership and investment opportunities. Communityowned renewable generation guidelines were developed as part of the energy strategy and have been adopted by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. These partnerships reduce the dependence on diesel and provides new source of financing for required capital investments. The Power Corporation's strategy looks to leverage our partnership to maximize our ability to fund asset renewals with the lowest cost to customers. As well, the GNWT continues to advance the development of foundational infrastructure which will make the territories more appealing to future investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to commend the person who wrote that because there's a lot of fluff in there, and there's a good job at putting a lot of fluff in there, but what I hear is a lot of targets but without viable solutions that we're sharing with the Northwest Territories that don't simply hinge on one mega infrastructure project that, quite frankly, we don't have the dollars for today. And that really might not end up, in the long run, achieving our energy goals in the Northwest Territories. And I hear what the Minister is saying that we're working on it but we can't say we're working on it without having the clear path to getting there.
Mr. Speaker, if new resource development if a new resource development project in the exploration or mine phase was to purchase NTPC power, that could have significant impact on NWT resident power bills. So can the Minister explain how the GNWT or NTPC is attracting new exploration or resource development projects to purchase NTPC power? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member giving me some questions here because there's a lot of good answers that are in here, so thank you for that.
So advancing projects such as the Taltson expansion project, Whati transmission line, Fort Providence transmission line will increase our ability to offer clean energy to industrial users. In particular, grid connections between our two hydro systems with hydro power from Taltson will open up clean growth opportunities north and south of the Great Slave Lake. As well, by consolidating community, industry, and transportation demand into one hydro grid will also spread the costs and attract new customers so that we can stabilize energy and have clean cost of energy here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister simply tell us how many agreements NTPC has entered into with resource development projects in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Absolutely. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation has signed an MOU with Osisko Metals that outlines the process of negotiating the power connection of clean hydro to the Pine Point mine. Northwest Territories Energy, which is the sister company of Northwest Territories Power Corporation, is also engaged in discussions to be able to provide power to the Prairie Creek mine that is located close to Nahanni Butte. We're also working with Department of ITI to provide power opportunities to other potential mines such as TerraX Minerals, Nechalacho Rare Earth Projects, and Fortune Minerals. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation will also be in active participation in the geoscience forum that's happening in November to be able to build these engagements with other potential mining customers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, improving NTPC's institutional framework and governance model are key pieces to meeting its infrastructure challenges. And I know that this has been a core focus of Regular Members on this side of the House since we literally walked into this House. So by what date will NTPC have a diversified board of folks with expertise in electricity utility rather than deputy ministers, and will the GNWT explore new institutional arrangements for NTPC to provide more effective and efficient financing, funding, and infrastructure delivery? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't have a date but I want to note that our current board do have the competencies that are a benefit to the organization, and I want to recognize that they have their own areas of knowledge and expertise. That said, one of our rationale for making a change would be able to include more members with direct electrical utility experience. I anticipate that any change like that will require transition time, and perhaps even some training for future board members. I believe we all want to have experience on the board. We also want to have northern experience brought to the table by Northerners. I do not want to suggest that all future board members are going to have direct experience with regulated utility companies.
And to the second part of the question there, Mr. Speaker, the governance review is not broadly looking at institutional changes beyond the current model in great detail. The reality is, is that our existing institutional model has features set in legislation, and we have not directed any changes that would dramatically change that. At some point, Mr. Speaker, we may consider changes but only if it's a benefit to the ratepayers.
I would be happy to speak to the Member on more detail. I've got lots of notes here. I'm not going to take up too much time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
