Michael Miltenberger

We’re looking at a number of things. In fact, we’re looking at the whole range of challenges as we look at how we’re structured historically and as we look to the future, distribution is definitely one. The question was posed at the Energy Charrette, it was posed by myself to the attendees at the charrette with the question of how many distributors of power do we need in the Northwest Territories to make this as efficient as possible. That is a question that we have to look at. We know we have to look at generation in thermal communities, bring down the costs. Total reliance on diesel is not...

The intent of the Territorial Power Support Program was to make sure that thermal communities are subsidized to the Yellowknife rate, and as the Members have heard, there’s one hydro community whose rates are higher than the Yellowknife rate and that’s Hay River. Thank you.

The budget lays out our ongoing commitment to alternative energy, to the rebate incentive programs, to working with communities, but I think the biggest commitment is there in the charrette, and the Premier referenced it in one of his earlier responses, that as we deal with our borrowing limit and we get the borrowing limit raised, one of the key areas we’re looking at, and the budget address says this, as well, that we know that energy issues, especially generation issues in Yellowknife and all the thermal communities are critical issues to bring down the cost of living, reduce our reliance...

We have a Greenhouse Gas Strategy, as well, to address the Member’s initial comment on his second question. It is up for renewal this year. We are going to hit the targets we have in there. We are looking at modernizing and updating it to reflect the current realities.

When it comes to development, we have a very fundamental approach of sustainability and balance that’s required with protection of the environment and resource development. We have quite a rigorous environmental assessment and review process for all project applications where ENR, ITI and Lands work together collaboratively to...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will try to be brief and I will not repeat all the things I said the first go-round. There were some consistent themes here about the borrowing limit, the sustainability of our budgets and the need to start making those hard decisions now, which we concur with.

In regard to Mr. Bouchard, he asked for some history and information of the borrowing limit, how did we get to where we are and just note for the record that we will provide that information to committee. He had some queries about the ice road, the Tibbitt Lake-Contwoyto ice road possibly being converted as a...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I was under the understanding that we were going to respond every third… Thank you.

Yes, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, that Bill 43, An Act to Amend the Borrowing Authorization Act, be read for the first time.

Yes, we do track that, and we have some ideas and we get some feedback. A lot of it is the issue of family; some of it is the cost of living; some of it is retirement.

In regard to the Member’s earlier comment of an interest of committee, we’d be happy to get all and any suggestions that committee members have in terms of their suggestions, and if there are other suggestions in terms of involvement in the work we’re doing, we’d be happy to look at what they would propose as well.

Mr. Speaker, as I rise to present the last budget of the 17th Legislative Assembly, I would first like to thank the Members of this Assembly, who, through various standing committees, have worked with the Cabinet towards achieving the priorities of this Assembly within the limits of our fiscal framework. It is a credit to our system of consensus government, as the many successes and accomplishments of the 17th Legislative Assembly and the numerous challenges met and often tough choices made are because we worked together. This budget looks to conclude the work of the 17th Assembly and prepare...