Qujannamiik. (Translation) Do you have any more comments to make? (Translation ends) Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the western Arctic, we have very good power lines from the dams, hundreds of miles away. In Yellowknife, we get power from elsewhere, hundreds of miles away. It's the same in other communities. We have nothing like that in the eastern Arctic. We have to use local power and we have to import oil from other provinces to run power plants. It's my understanding that it's a lot cheaper to use power from dams. I know there is a dam in Gillam, Manitoba which has surplus power and right now is selling power to the United States. Their capacity is not being utilized. I wonder if the corporation would do a study to see if it is feasible to put lines through to the Keewatin region, like Arviat, Rankin Inlet and other communities, with the view of reducing the expenditure of oil in that particular region and to help the people have lower power costs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Madam Premier.

I'll defer the question to Mr. Kidd.

Mr. Kidd.

Mr. Chairman, the Power Corporation has already looked at the possibility of overhead transmission lines from the provinces of the south up into the Rankin area. The difficulty we find is that the cost of building the line, together with the cost of the power and the relatively small quantities of power that would be transmitted along the line, would result in a project that is very clearly uneconomic compared with the diesel alternative. In fact, it approaches very closely the reality whereby the interest on the money associated with the project would buy a new diesel plant each year. In addition, there are difficulties from a technical perspective because of the small amounts of power. We regret that's the case but, unfortunately, it is at this point.

Thank you. Further general comments. Is it agreed that we are concluded this item? Mr. Koe.

I would like to make a couple of comments with regard to the town of Inuvik and the high temperature hot water system that operates through the utilidor system in Inuvik. The hot water comes from the Power Corporation. I didn't get a chance in the SCOF hearings to make my point, although I've made my point to most other departments.

The Standing Committee on Finance made a recommendation that any plans for existing and future capital projects have to reflect the phasing out of the current system. I just want to make my point to Mr. Kidd and to the Minister, that there are some plans for new buildings and renovations to the heating systems of the existing buildings, Grollier Hall, for instance. Hopefully, that is going to be deferred until the plans are all in order.

It is the concern of my constituents that if we start phasing out some of these bigger buildings, at the end of three or four years we'll have one building left. Right now, it looks like that will be the hospital, if things continue on with the way it is planned. They will end up paying all the costs for the heating system and all that cost will be on this government. So, we want to avoid that. I just wanted to make the point, Mr. Chairman, that the Power Corporation is very involved in this. I know they're involved in the committee in the town of Inuvik, and we appreciate their knowledge in this area. Everything is being taken into consideration into the planning of buildings and future construction in the town. Mahsi.

Thank you. That was a comment with some implication for response from the witness. Madam Premier.

Mr. Chairman, we are quite familiar with that matter. It is also in the interest of the Power Corporation to look at this matter. The matter is under review and, as the Member has indicated, there is a committee in Inuvik that the Power Corporation is working with on how we make decisions, not only in the best interest of the consumers, but the Power Corporation, as well.

Thank you. General comments. Is it agreed that this item is concluded?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Madam Premier and Mr. Kidd. Thank you for appearing before the committee. Mr. Koe.

I move that we report progress.

Mr. Koe's motion is not debateable, it is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. Thank you.

Before we go to item 19, report of committee of the whole, I would like to extend our thanks to two pages from Cambridge Bay who have been with us all week. They are leaving tomorrow. They are Jessica Illaszewicz and Tamalyn Gillis.

---Applause

You were very patient and you did a good job. Item 19, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 1, Committee Report 3-12(4) and Tabled Document 11-12(4), and would like to report progress with four motions being adopted, and that Tabled Document 11-12(4) is concluded. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.

Seconder to the motion. Mr. Arngna'naaq. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 20, third reading of bills. Mr. Nerysoo.

Point Of Order

Point of order, Mr. Speaker. Could I seek unanimous consent to return to item 12, tabling of documents?

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Nerysoo.