Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, as the Member stated, this area and the impact it has on the lives on individuals — commercial as well, when we talk about the small grocery stores in our smaller communities…. The cost of that energy generation is borne by the residents in that community. So, yes, it is a high priority. That is one of the reasons I have kept the Power Corporation as one of my areas of responsibility, to put the energy into it and push this along for a complete review. I will confirm for the Member that no stone will be left unturned when it comes to power generation and distribution in the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess the simplest way of saying it is that the role of the Power Corporation into the future of the Northwest Territories is one that’s evolving. Again, I met with the board of the Power Corporation. I stated that we have to look at how we operate and look at all facets of it. The fact that we have to look beyond the existing framework that’s in place is something that we shouldn’t shy away from as we look forward to how we generate and deliver power in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the PUB is, as well, part of this overall process that we would look at if there are changes that are required — again, the PUB as the regulator of the industry — and if we would look at any changes or how they would continue to, I guess in a sense, police the industry here in the Northwest Territories. That is one of the areas being looked at. We provide that to Members as to the direction we’re going in and seek either support or further work in that area.

Mr. Speaker, the process we’re involved with now is looking at the energy costs in the Northwest Territories through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee as well as going through our business plans, looking at alternatives of operation. I met with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation board and discussed with them some of the impacts in the Northwest Territories. We need to definitely look at all of the operation. As Member Groenewegen stated, don’t leave any stone unturned.

Mr. Speaker, the process we are involved with now is some of the work being done, in a sense, by other initiatives; for example, Refocusing Government, looking at the delivery of services from a board and agency perspective, how we align with the departments and are working in those regions, what level of authorities are made at the headquarters versus regional operations and should that change or remain the same or be enhanced or tightened up? In a sense, with that are the accountabilities with that responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, the review is quite open to a whole number of options. We can decide here, as an Assembly, what should be undertaken. The business operation in the existing framework is quite clear — the structure that we have to operate in. Again, as I said earlier, it is up to this Assembly if we want to change that; for example, the act that the Power Corporation acts under and how the PUB regulates the industry in the Northwest Territories. There are a number of things, right from programs we as the GNWT deliver. The Power Corporation itself is open to what the Members would like to consider...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When the Power Corporation files for any rate applications or changes to its rates, it goes under review by the Public Utilities Board. It looks at the whole gamut of the operation in the Power Corporation. Those are areas that would be reviewed.

Amortization deals with the capital expenses of the public corporation and replacing assets that are on the ground that would need to be replaced, such as power poles, generation facilities and so on. We try to do the best we can in dealing with those areas. In fact, I believe we provide information to Members on the breakdown...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is one of the initiatives I laid out early on in the life of our government as one of those strategic areas. It’s looking at how we operate and the delivery of services in our communities and how they’re delivered from a regional aspect to a community aspect. Looking, for example, at the future of the development of the Northwest Territories when it comes to governance, with the self-government tables happening in those regional bodies, does our delivery fit within that? We haven’t been able to get to that yet. As we work on that initiative, we would be prepared to...

With the existing framework we have to operate under — that is, the acts that are in place, the Public Utilities Board regulation process — if we were to delay this process, then the potential is that next year we would have to go for even a higher request for operation.

The fact that individuals have been saving on their energy use, yes, is one that helps, in a sense. But, Mr. Speaker, I’ll speak from experience. I have a large family; I have a home in Inuvik and pay a higher rate than Yellowknife. For approximately 11 months of the year I keep — I should say, my wife keeps — the power...

I will request from the Power Corporation that we pull this information together and provide it to Members for their review.