Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a tool kit of programs that can be accessed for a number of different programs. Through our loans programs, we can make business loans up to $2 million and we do have some grants and contribution programs. On an ad hoc basis, we can go approach FMB to see if there is funding that falls outside the different programs that can be used to promote development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I think if you look at the legislation establishing BDIC you would see that they are an independent board. There is no opportunity for political interference with approval of loans and the only avenue is for me to provide general direction to the board, and that is according to the legislation.

With regard to the SEED program, which is Support for Entrepreneurs in Economic Development policy, in the consultation we were, with committee it was very clear that the focus should be on what we call level two communities. I’m pleased to report that since its inception, the SEED program has been...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the first indication I’ve heard from the Member that he wanted a presentation to the standing committee, but we’re quite prepared to present at the committee’s convenience.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government has had some sessions with Avalon to discuss their project. Certainly, valued added is a priority for our government and also we want to work with them to facilitate that. So our first order of business is to determine what their requirements are.

As you know, the federal government is responsible for mining in the Northwest Territories and as such they collect royalties for all developments. So it makes it a little difficult for us to actually provide financial support. But, nevertheless, we are working very hard to identify areas that we can have value...

I’m quite prepared to commit to that because we do that as a matter of course. Certainly this is an area where we want to see development proceed and certainly we’ll work very hard to make this happen.

The NWT Power Corporation owns and generates the power. What I was talking about was, based on the current schedules, it’s basically who comes first.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the will of the House I’m sure that anything’s possible. I just wanted to point out that on the regulated side, the cost of operating the power facilities has to be recovered. I believe that what Avalon is looking for are rates that are similar to what are being provided in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In the Northwest Territories the commercial rate is 7.4 cents per kilowatt hour plus a one cent rider. That’s delivery. So that number is higher than what Saskatchewan Power charges Nico, for example. But certainly if we were to make an exception for Avalon, then we...

They amount that Avalon is requesting, or has identified as requiring, is available through the current production at Taltson. But the way it works, the current timelines of the different projects would indicate that that power would go to the diamond mines when and if or when the Taltson Hydro expansion is completed and the transmission lines are done. We don’t have a process for reserving power. So it’s basically on a first-come, first-served basis. If that power is made available on an immediate basis it would be through the regulated side and it would have to go through and obtain PUB...

I would like to recognize my wife and partner of 40-plus years, Melody McLeod.

We’ve been involved in a number of meetings with Avalon. We have sent a representative to a conference in Washington on the benefits of rare earth minerals. We are looking at their energy requirements. We will be co-hosting a conference with CanNor to discuss the value-added opportunities.

So rare earth minerals are something that’s fairly new. We don’t know a lot about all the different value added, but we will be working with the federal government to identify value-added opportunities and, of course, we’ll be working with Avalon as well.