Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I do every year after Youth Parliament, today I am bringing the words of the youth representative from Yellowknife South to this House, ensuring all Members and the public hear the fresh perspectives, innovative solutions, and policy insights reflected in the voice of our youth. And so, Mr. Speaker, this year, Yellowknife South, who was represented by Lauren Tordiff, and these words are hers:
As young people, we inherit the challenges of today and the responsibility to create solutions for tomorrow. If we want to tackle issues like the high cost of living, we must ask ourselves a tough but necessary question, do our current systems still make sense given today's challenges?
Take, for example, the cost of electricity in the Northwest Territories. Many residents struggle to afford power, yet we expect a Crown corporation to transition to greener technology while also keeping rates low. The current system forces the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, (NTPC), to pass the costs of infrastructure upgrades directly on to consumers. This makes it difficult for families and businesses to thrive. But what if we did things differently?
As the Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation, I feel the need to promote safety, affordability, and easier distribution among the smaller communities, but how can we regulate this while distribution remains a regulated private sector activity?
The government will take responsibility for producing power and lead the transition to renewable energy sources without forcing residents to bear the full financial burden. Meanwhile, private companies could compete to efficiently distribute electricity in our communities. This would not only help reduce costs but also ensure that cleaner energy becomes a reality in our communities. We might also create opportunities for residents to become micro generators of power, feeding back into the grid and increasing system resiliency and capacity.
A larger problem that affects many communities of the Northwest Territories is the imbalance of energy distribution. The solution I propose is a generating system that will be able to produce enough energy, not only for the communities that are present today, but for what will be there in the years to come. So what would this look like?
In collaboration with Indigenous governments, we will build a mass generator for each energy district that will provide reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable power to all Northwest Territories communities. As young leaders, we must be willing to challenge the status quo. We cannot solve today's problems without outdated solutions if we have the courage to ask whether our current structures make sense, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Lauren for her strong representation of Yellowknife South. I have only one correction. It's not only young leaders who need to be willing to challenge the status quo. It's a challenge that all leaders need to accept. Thank you to Lauren and thank you for that inspiration, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife South. That's the second time I've got to hear it, so it was an amazing speech there, and it's another one today.
Members' statements.
