Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know that we live in the most harshest environment in the territory. The cost of living and inflation's gone up so bad and it's the people that are on the income support, the monies that they do get, it lasts, I guess, three used to last three weeks. Now it's lasting two weeks. People are going hungry in our riding, Mr. Speaker.

Will this government and our Minister in regards to working together with the energy plan, I guess because when the energy plan has to get in place sooner than later because of the cost, and it's going to fluctuate right across...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That's really good news, and it's good to hear. Will that drive down the cost of fuel, though, if we bring in bulk fuel? Mr. Speaker, what programs are available through the GNWT to help residents in the High Arctic communities, who are paying the highest price for fuel and electricity, to pay their bills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT's energy strategy, that the GNWT will partner with communities and stakeholders, Mr. Speaker, I have not seen the GNWT partner on energy projects in my riding of Nunakput. In Nunakput, we face the coldest and darkest winters. We use diesel to heat our homes, our businesses. We pay the highest price of fuel in the territory set by the GNWT, is to do this. Not only is this diesel is a source of energy to operate our communities, we pay carbon tax on that fuel. In my riding, we are already facing the highest cost of living, three and a half times more than...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know, our units in our small communities, the appliances are old and they suck the power and the power bills go up, Mr. Speaker. In that turn, the residents struggle to pay for that.

Has the Minister done any work with the Minister responsible for housing to get energy efficient appliances in the public units across the territory, especially in Nunakput riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what has the Minister accomplished in the life of the Assembly to bring down of the cost of the power in Nunakput riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I made it clear in this House I oppose the use of the power corporation using power limiter devices during the cold winter months in my riding. Life in the Arctic Coast is harsh and expensive. Lack of heat can be life threatening. People who have the power limiters don't know when the power will be turned off and back on. It makes it impossible for them to heat their homes properly and feed and care for their families.

Under the NTPC terms of agreement, it states respect to the corporation's responsibility that continuous supply. The corporation cannot guarantee...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Minister thinking of getting rid of all those bills on behalf of the whole territory then we could start over?

Mr. Speaker, you know what? Many residents are on income support in our territory. It's hard for them to pay their bills. Can the Minister commit to work with ECE to ensure that the clients can pay their power bills in the winter without having to give up the income support for food and other essential supplies; can she work with that with the Minister? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I was going off of power limiters and, you know, state of housing in my riding in Nunakput. Today, Mr. Speaker, it's minus 39 in Sachs Harbour, 30 in Paulatuk, minus 42 in Ulukhaktok, and minus 41 in Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, what work is the NTPC undertaking to address issues of power limiters, especially to the residents in the High Arctic; what has the Minister done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I brought up, across my communities, apprenticeship programs, you know, the lack of I ain't going to say lack of trying, it's just a lack of manpower, I guess, in having certified people across the territory in all communities and especially my riding. Madam Premier Madam Speaker, you got a promotion there. No, I'm hoping that with trades with the local LHOs, how many communities in my riding in Nunakput right now have a trades apprentice in the community? Thank you. Or communities I represent. Housing. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In regards to that, I just want to say again, we have youth that are graduating that are potentially able to go into the trades program. We could take care of our own units, housing units in the communities and having our own local people taking care of the taking care of ourselves and caretakers for that.

Will the Minister commit to establishing local apprenticeships in the Nunakput riding, in all four of my communities, working with the local leadership, ask Aurora College to get the trades trailers in and start working towards that? Thank you, Madam Speaker.