Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Finance runs a Power Subsidy Program that
subsidizes consumers who a pay a higher rate for electrical power than is charged in Yellowknife.
Under this program, Mr. Speaker, the first 700 kilowatt hours of power are subsidized to the Yellowknife rate, and I understand that this program is funded solely by dividends paid to the G.N.W.T. by the Power Corporation. I have no concern with a program such as this, Mr. Speaker, and I want to make that clear.
However, my concern is for those communities where the power is cheaper to supply than the Yellowknife rate, particularly my constituency. Since the purchase of N.C.P.C. by the Government of the Northwest Territories, these communities, and I know my constituency, in fact, has absorbed substantial increases in power rates. I believe that it is to the amount of 24.6 percent, if not greater.
It seems to me, that these communities are, in my opinion, being unfairly treated in the application of power rates. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, has the government ever considered implementing a power rebate program, to reimburse consumers in these communities, where the base power rate is lower than the one in Yellowknife. Thank you.