Thank you. I believe that was a comment. Grants and contributions, total contributions. Sorry, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Premier, under the Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources contributions, in 1991-92, $180,000 was provided to Colville Lake for the electrical services, but in 1992-93, is there no more requirement. I see there is no money budgeted for that community. Is there no more requirement to provide electricity for Colville Lake?

Thank you. Madam Minister.

Mr. Chairman, it was a one time government of the Northwest Territories capital contribution for the electrification of Colville Lake. The Power Corporation now runs the O and M, so there are no further requirements under this budget.

Thank you. Grants and contributions, $1.244 million. Agreed.

Agreed.

Thank you. Information item, Northwest Territories Power Corporation. We are going to deal with that particular matter under the next item. Detail of work performed on behalf of third parties.

Agreed.

Northern oil and gas action program, $285,000. Agreed.

Agreed.

Total department, $285,000.

Agreed.

Thank you, we cannot at this particular time, conclude this particular department. We will

conclude it after we have had the discussion with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Agreed.

I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses. Mr. Dent.

Yes, we are moving into the N.W.T. Power Corporation. Government Leader.

Introductory Remarks, N.W.T. Power Corporation

Mr. Chairman, in regards to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, effective April 1, 1992, the Corporation became fully regulated by the Northwest Territories Public Utilities Board. Until then the government was directly responsible for setting the rates charged by the Corporation to its customers. As a self-sustaining entity, the Corporation does not receive government funding, rather it returned in 1991-92 to a shareholder the government of the Northwest Territories, $2.709 million by way of a dividend.

For the year 1992-93 it is expected a dividend in excess of $3 million will be paid to the government.

In the fiscal year 1992-93, the Corporation plans to continue its program of repairing and replacing its capital assets. Considerable progress has been made in respect to the last few years, however, much remains to be done. The Corporation has identified areas where plant replacements will be constructed in a more cost effective manner. The corporation continues to search for alternatives to diesel fuelled electrical generation. It has commissioned studies on hydro locations from the Sylvia Grinnel River on Baffin Island, the Coppermine River to the Snare River northwest of Yellowknife. Further, it is cooperating with the Science Institute on wind generation and photo projects in various locations.

In terms of day to day operations, the corporation is focused on improving the efficiency of its operations, through acquisitions of more fuel efficient engines and technological advances, in engine monitoring. The corporation expects to see reduced consumption of both litres of fuel, and also of staffing time. Thank you.

Thank you. The Standing Committee on Finance. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. On the N.W.T. Power Corporation, I have some recommendations here. The committee has previously requested that a value for money audit of the N.W.T. Corporation be undertaken. The corporation provides an essential service, however, until recently there has not been a second opinion on how the corporation is operating or whether there is good value for money.

Committee Members have indicated concerns about the corporation's growth. This Assembly approved a motion for the corporation to develop a corporate strategy and a report on the feasibility of merits of privatizing the corporation for presentation to the 1992 fall session. The government provided the corporation's 1991 to 1996 Corporate Plan for committee review, and indicated that a privatization option paper would be tabled during the 1992 fall session.

The 1991-96 Corporate Plan falls far short of the committee's expectation of what should be included in a corporate strategy.

Thank you. Motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Power Corporation has not reviewed the feasibility of linking N.W.T. communities with a B.C. power grid, in order to reduce energy costs.

I move that the committee recommends that the N.W.T. Power Corporation review the feasibility of linking N.W.T. communities with the British Columbia power grid, in order to reduce energy costs.