Glen Abernethy

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to say that I’m a little frustrated actually being here today. I’m a little frustrated that the first time that the Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly get to vote on anything on the bridge, the vote is such that we really don’t have a choice. We pretty much have to vote yes to this thing. If we don’t vote yes to this thing it’s still going to cost us the same or more money. The delays will actually, in my opinion, result in far greater expenditures than the incredibly high expenditures that we’re already dealing with today. It’s frustrating and it makes me...

Thank you, Premier Roland. Minister Michael McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Premier Roland.

I think with something like the Taltson expansion we need to be thinking long term, we need to be thinking about the benefits to the people of the Northwest Territories, not just to the pocketbook of Deze which stands to make a lot of money from this if we go around the East Arm. There are other mining opportunities. There’s Avalon near Thor Lake, there are opportunities in Pine Point, and there’s also, hopefully someday if there aren’t already, opportunities in the North Slave Geological Province that can be accessed through alternate routes. I want to know why we’re so bent on going with...

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole back to order. We’re reviewing Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2010-2011 (Infrastructure Expenditures), and we’re on detail, page 5. First on my list is Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Premier Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. The NWT Hydro Corporation’s strategic plan promises a feasibility analysis and design of a potential electrical grid for the Northwest Territories. The Taltson expansion does not address this or support a long-term strategy focused on the NWT grid system or creating redundancy within the NWT electrical system. You would think that this analysis and design of a grid should logically occur prior to the Taltson expansion itself. So could the Premier tell me how can this government support the expansion of Taltson if it avoids...

Does the committee wish to proceed with detail on Supplementary Appropriation No. 2, 2010-2011?

Thank you, Premier Roland. Ms. Melhorn.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.