Michael Miltenberger

The Commercial Power Subsidy will cease to exist as it’s currently structured. What was the number for $267,000 back in 2009-2010 under the actuals was how much we were actually spending at the time. It was an undersubscribed program for a number of reasons and when we looked at the new electrical rate structure there was a clear recognition that we would want to come up with a different way to provide some type of support in the smaller communities and the thermal communities for the commercial power rates, because this particular way that it was dealt with wasn’t that effective, hence what...

I agree with the Member that the whole issue of biomass is not a singular event, but it’s a process that we’ve embarked on as a Territory and it’s going to take time to get it implemented fully. We’re setting up systems to work with communities and individuals, institutions, other governments, community energy plans. Making sure we deal with some of the value-added pieces when you look at pellets. We are doing, and we’ll continue to do, a significant amount. Sixty million dollars is what this government put towards alternative energy. A good portion of that has been tied into trying to improve...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under program delivery details it’s characterized as interest expense.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a significant number of things that the government is doing. I agree with the Member that there is nothing stopping individual families from going out and installing a woodstove, especially in the larger communities where they have access to the supply and they can get the woodstoves insured. With our Biomass Strategy, we have converted a lot of our own buildings and other communities’ buildings to biomass. We’re, in fact, looking at work on the value-added piece with pellets. We’re looking at what’s the best technology to use in combined heat and power in some...

Mr. Chairman, this particular item I believe it says it is in relation to the Housing Corporation, not the Power Corporation.

Mr. Chairman, there are two main reasons these numbers are built on the 2009 tax year when we were in the midst of the significant economic downturn. The Member is correct; they have an ability to reach back three years, as well, when they are doing their taxes to work out the most advantageous arrangement to themselves. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll speak to the borrowing limits and I’ll get Ms. Melhorn to speak to the shared services piece.

Our position in regard to the borrowing limit has been clear and consistent. We’re involved in a government-to-government negotiation and discussion with the federal Finance department. There’s been a review of the three territories’ borrowing limits. This is an issue of specific concern to us so we’ve been very proactive in dealing with the federal government. We’ve had meetings just before Christmas when we were in Kananaskis, a chance to talk to the Minister of Finance...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents entitled Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2010-2011; and Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 3, 2010-2011. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, we have to do both, which is what we’re doing. We have to make the long-term commitment to change how we generate, distribute and deliver energy, electricity, heat. We have to minimize our reliance on fossil fuels. In the meantime, after 16 years, as you will well recollect the discussion in this House of coming up with a fair rate structure for Northerners that doesn’t in many cases cripple small businesses. It’s something that is an interim measure as we take these longer-term steps to restructure and rebuild our infrastructure in terms of the generation and delivery of...