Michael Miltenberger

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can give the Member some numbers and if they don’t work, I’ll turn it over to Mr. Kalgutkar.

For a territorial average the budget base rate of power is 53.91 cents per kilowatt. The 2011-2012 rate of cost is 69.72 cents, which is a 15.81 cent variance or 22.617 percent. So there is a difference between what they are budgeted for and what the cost actually is; what they have in their budget.

Maybe I’ll ask Mr. Kalgutkar. I notice you have that look that you want more information. I’ll ask Mr. Kalgutkar maybe to speak further to this.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, I will move that Bill 2, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2012-2013, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve always heard tell that when you’re banging your head against a brick wall the one good thing about it is that it feels so good when you stop.

I appreciate the Member’s concern. We have, as the Member knows, very few new dollars in the budget for alternative energy. We had $60 million. Our fiscal circumstances are such that after the end of this coming month of March that money will be concluded, sunsetted, and we’re now in a position of trying to find some money to continue the many initiatives we have underway in terms of conservation of energy efficiencies...

No, Madam Chair. I just appreciate the Member’s comments.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On a comparative basis if you look across the country, let’s pick one of my favourite provinces just given her size and the magnitude and complexity of the problems they’re dealing with, they’re spending over 45 cents on every dollar on health alone. In this jurisdiction we’re spending about 34 cents of every dollar on health and social services. If you tack on health or tack on all the other social programs, we are spending over 65 cents on every dollar. The growth in social programs is a concern because it limits our ability, but on a comparative basis I would say we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the third time.

No, no comment there. Thank you.

Madam Chair, we will commit to take a look at making sure we are updated in terms of the work we have done and if there is some full-cost accounting factors that we haven’t quantified. But it comes down to, at this particular juncture, just significant ongoing cost to bring them into the system that is prohibiting us from moving forward because of our fiscal circumstance. Thank you.

Yes, Madam Chair.