Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Ordinary Members' Caucus I would like to express our concern with regard to the issue of privatization of the NWT Power Corporation.
In March, Mr. Speaker, the Government Leader tabled a document entitled, A Proposal to Privatize the NWT Power Corporation. At that time, the Government Leader indicated she would bring a more detailed proposal to the House in a future session. Since that time, this issue has been raised in the Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Agencies, Boards and Commissions and the Ordinary Members' Caucus.
Mr. Speaker, the decision to privatize the Power Corporation is an issue of which Members are very concerned. They don't want to see it addressed in a hasty manner. A great deal of consultation and discussion will be required.
Concern about this proposal is strong, particularly in smaller communities across the north. Even though the government has yet to present its formal proposal, we've seen in this House a petition from citizens who are concerned about the impact of this change on the level of service that they would receive. Members are appreciative of the offer of the Government Leader to provide Members of the caucus with a full briefing on this issue on December 7.
Mr. Speaker, Members will attend this meeting and gain a better understanding of this complex issue. However, Mr. Speaker, there is always a great deal of business before Members of this House prior to the end of December. The Ordinary Members' Caucus wish to advise the government that it will not be willing to consider any proposal regarding the privatization of the NWT Power Corporation in this House prior to February, 1994. In February, we will examine the government's proposal. At that time we will be prepared to devote an appropriate amount of time and energy to consider this proposal and its long-term impact on the communities and the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
---Applause