Kieron Testart

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I see that there's some capital expenditure on Aurora College for our infrastructure improvements. I'm wondering if the Minister could tell me who determines infrastructure needs for the college? Is it the college itself or is it the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, or is it based on the capital needs assessment, et cetera? Just the methodology there? Thank you.

The Minister just said that exporting power has been the way to reduce cost. Does the Minister also agree that lowering the cost of power in the Northwest Territories would lower costs of doing business and provide more incentive for people to live, stay here, and start businesses, and for the mining industry to open new projects? Does the Minister agree that lowering the cost of power is a key economic concern for Northerners and for our economy?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation some questions about resolving this issue. We've had a lot of discussion in this House and in the public around the issue of affordable power in the Northwest Territories; however, the debate has largely centred on the claims from NTPC versus the claims from ATCO, when the real issue that Northerners have on their minds is how to make power more affordable.

Now the Power Corporation mentioned systemic issues that drive up the cost of power, and one of those is a lack of connection to the...

I appreciate the Minister will do some research into this. I think the bigger issue here is with the roll out of junior kindergarten, it seems that many of the school boards, both in YK1 or YCS, are feeling additional pressures, and I would like to ask the Minister if the department will be providing additional resources above and beyond what they currently receive to accommodate these new students and these new resource pressures on our schools.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The element of surprise is well and true today. Mr. Speaker, recently the Yellowknife Catholic School Board has gone to the press and expressed their frustrations with additional pressures being placed on the district schools by the implementation of the Junior Kindergarten Program, and in the words of the school board, “we want to make sure that we're providing the best and the best school for our kids.” Right now they're looking to appropriate some portables from the YK1 School District. Has the Minister had a conversation about these resource needs and how does he...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to move that we report progress.

Nothing further, thank you.

So, Mr. Speaker, we've gotten some facts out here around a long-term strategic goal for solving this problem. We're not hearing that in the press. Will the Minister commit to making the Power Corporation's long-term plans for making our energy system more affordable through infrastructure development, through multi-lateral agreements with other governments? Will he commit to making that kind of vision public the same way he's countering Northland's claims in the media? Will he start talking about positive things and not just countering the opposition?

Mr. Speaker, this government is engaging in three major transportation corridors; the North Slave Geological Province which we've heard about today involves the government of Nunavut and numerous Aboriginal governments as well. This is a multi-jurisdictional mega project. If we can do that why can't we do this?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In that case, Mr. Speaker, does the Minister then, as she does not put pen to these recommendations, does she in fact support everything that her management team has put forward, and will she find the means to pay for it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.