Caroline Wawzonek

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, it is challenging to be able to provide electricity to a very small number of ratepayers scattered across a very wide geographic region. Many, if not the vast majority, of which of those communities are not connected one to the other, let alone any of us, to any larger grid. So there certainly is we've heard announced today the Inuvik Wind Project is one project that is moving forward, that is looking for an alternative, to increase an alternative to diesel. And certainly to the extent that there might be some additional at some point we're going to...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm happy to think about that. Madam Chair, when I first took on the responsibility here about two and a half years ago, I don't disagree with the idea of trying to get all fishers into some kind of whether it's a, you know, forum or conference, but into a place where everyone's receiving the information about the fish industry and fish revitalization at the same time so there can hopefully be not any misunderstandings about what's happening, why it's happening, who's doing the training, who's available for the training, who's interested in having training...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So right now, Madam Chair, the rates that are built in were built at a time that reflect a much lower amount of price on diesel. So there's obviously a couple of drivers that are making that now no longer accurate. And what happens is there is a rate stabilization fund approach, which is a standard utility approach to help when there are costs overages of this nature. Of what that would do, it would create a rider and if there is a rider imposed, that would then of course raise the rates. Rather than have individual residents face increased rates at this time given...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, fishers do right now have the ability to apply through SEED force subsidies to support them with the cost of equipment. They are also being supported in terms of provided training, both in the winter and the summer fishery, and in the works right now is an effort to provide additional funding. Funding was already provided once last fiscal year and again this year to help support having mentors and trainees on the boats which would then support their labour needs. There is also has traditionally been and continues to be support subsidy support for...

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, at this point, we're still certainly anticipating to have an operating surplus, and as such and a sufficient operating surplus to be above the amount we would require to avoid being noncompliant with the fiscal responsibility policy. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, right now the Northwest Territories remains the sole signatory to the Freshwater Fish Marketing Act, a federal piece of legislation. That provides a floor. So it provides a guarantee where fishers are guaranteed a certain income amount that comes on a regular basis to them. Unfortunately what the offset of that is as well it's a guarantee and a floor, it also creates a bit of a ceiling. We aren't able to take advantage of the markets that we now believe to be available to the very good product that we have coming out of the freshwater here in the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that's likely a question that requires not only the Department of Finance to be involved but also the Department of Infrastructure and ECC. So certainly can commit to taking that back to my colleagues and having that bigger conversation. It doesn't necessarily speak to the reason why we are seeing or certainly not the only reason why we're seeing this impacts here on this sup. A lot of our impacts some of the impacts are due to the floods last year but there's also some fairly significant amounts attached to health and social services here.

So one thing I...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, there's been significant contributions from the federal government overall to both the building of the fish plant and to the fishing industry. So I do want to acknowledge that, actually quite a significant amount. I don't know that it's going anything to this specific item although I will note it's my recollection that CANNOR was quite heavily involved in procuring some of the equipment that's gone in. Again, so there's been a lot of supports, but just not perhaps on this particular element of the fish strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, so, Madam Chair, if we do exceed the amount that's available in the supplementary reserve, then that does potentially draw down on what would have been in anticipated or projected to be as a surplus. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, that is correct. Thank you.