Tom Beaulieu

The Alternative Energy Program, which looks at all of the alternatives to energy, is a program that is currently being delivered by Arctic Energy Alliance, and that program has $800,000 to look at a lot of various programs. An example is there is a more energy-efficient hot water replacement program so that it cuts down on energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and so on. In that program alone the Arctic Energy Alliance expended $300,000 last year. There are other programs that are available under that program and also looking at the various technologies under alternative energy, also programs...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Business Incentive Program is an ongoing program that is administered by the Arctic Energy Alliance. Last year we had $200,000. It was not fully subscribed at that point; however, we’re going to continue with that funding, and if there’s more uptake we would consider looking around for additional funds to fund that program. It is considered to be very important. Thank you.

First, if there’s an evaluation being done for office space in Fort Simpson, we know there’s going to be some housing needs before the decision is made on which positions are decentralized to Fort Simpson. My understanding is the overall discussion of all the decentralized positions will continue beyond the plan that we currently have. My understanding is we have decentralized 150 positions and there will be more discussions and further phases, and Fort Simpson would most likely be part of that discussion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have the date of the last time those evaluations occurred. However, I’m advised recently that the Department of Public Works and Services has had discussions about Nogha Enterprises about possibly creating some office space in Fort Simpson. Thank you.

Yes, that’s a good point. I was answering the summer students, but in general, we are going to target the third and fourth year students that are finishing their studies. Part of the plan is to recruit those students back to the territory as part of the overall plan to bring more people to the territory. Bringing our own people back, ensuring that our own people come back to work in the Northwest Territories is part of our plan.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department had an initial open house in December when the students were back. We let the departments know that they were to post any of the positions that they had that would be available for students, and the students would do a little bit of work getting on to the website and finding jobs that match their field of study. That’s how we’re hoping to match them, not only here in YK but throughout the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

I don’t have that information here with me. I can have that information specific to the utilization of the solar energy budget given to me and I can provide that to the Member.

The department is in regular contact with the Arctic Energy Alliance, as they deliver quite a few programs for the Government of the Northwest Territories. Specifically when this particular program was last reviewed, I don’t have that date. It seems to be a program that is working well. It is almost fully subscribed, so we expect that when we start our energy division and we start to have more communications with Arctic Energy Alliance and its clientele, we expect that all of the money that we give to Arctic Energy Alliance will be fully subscribed. Thank you.

I would just like to also add that the Housing Corporation will be building duplexes in Fort Simpson. There are three duplexes now slated for Fort Simpson and for all of the Nahendeh there will be eight duplexes being built for future decentralized positions. These are market positions and this is what we will be looking at. When these houses go on the market, that will be an opportunity for positions that will be decentralized to use those houses for accommodations. Thank you.

The fact is it is the money. If we’re going add a fair chunk of capital on to the already large amount of infrastructure that’s at the airport that we are paying for, then it would be a matter of having to increase the costs of the airport again. If money was no object, we would have probably extended that airport quite some time ago. Thank you.