Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions will be to the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corp. Noting that Hay River has now moved from working with a franchise agreement with Naka Power and they've gone directly to NT Power Corp, Mr. Speaker, I am wondering when will we get some type of public articulation of the savings that have been hopefully realized by changing their power purchase agreement directly with NWT Power Corp. Thank you.
Thank you, Member from Yellowknife Centre. Minister responsible for NTPC.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decision by the Hay River Town Council to switch providers was now 12 years ago. So quite a lot has obviously changed in the interim time, but I will certainly go back to NTPC and see what they can provide in terms of some analysis of what has changed in the power rates over the last 12 years. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have no doubt the Minister is familiar with the legislation that empowers this process to at least if not a perfect degree, to some degree. As such, Mr. Speaker, would the Minister be familiar with what types of steps and processes it would require to eliminate any type of franchising power? In other words, getting rid of a third party and connecting directly to NWT Power Corp in all our communities directly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I can say that at this point in time there is no plan or intention to remove the franchising opportunity or to otherwise remove right now the presence of other franchises here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Member from Yellowknife Centre. Final supplementary.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think I was more trying to target process as opposed to current action, Mr. Speaker. So I guess in some ways I will just repeat the similar type of question, which is, Mr. Speaker, what type of process would it take to eliminate a third party managing power distribution in the Northwest Territories and therefore the NWT Power Corp., which in this case there really isn't competition, would directly supply customers directly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I certainly didn't mean to not answer the question but simply to emphasize that at this point in time there are two utility companies here operating in the Northwest Territories, and there's not an expectation or any -- I've not received any other interest in changing that. So, Mr. Speaker, the focus has been on trying to ensure that the two companies work well together in terms of generation, distribution, and in working together when there is overlap between them in those two things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister responsible for NTPC. Oral questions. Member from Yellowknife North.
