The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This department is the department that provides services to people in the communities, especially the municipal governments. These municipal governments have been quite satisfied with the department in the way the services were delivered. There is a real fear here by members of communities that this reorganization is destroying that service. And that's the purpose of this government, to provide programs and services to the people in the community. If the way the service is delivered is satisfactory and nobody asked for any changes, why did the department decide to reorganize and make these changes? Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The decision to reorganize this department at the headquarters level was decided and initiated by the deputy minister who has responsibility in administering the department. He felt that the department needed reorganization because there were duplications of responsibilities under different divisions that had to be realigned. It was just merely to make the department more efficient in responding to the needs of the communities and the regional centres. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's interesting to hear the Minister say that the deputy minister made the decision to reorganize a quite satisfactory department. I would like to ask the Minister if the Minister is running the department or if the deputy minister is running this department. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Ms. Mike.

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you, Madam Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I have a question for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. It's regarding the proposed 22 per cent low-water surcharge that the NWT Power Corporation is applying to the Public Utilities Board for.

Madam Speaker, I do understand the Public Utilities Board has the mandate and responsibility to decide power rates, however the Power Corporation is 100 per cent owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories. The government is accountable, in this House, for the Power Corporation and the Minister, under the act, does have the power to issue directors to the corporation. My constituents find the proposed low-water surcharge totally unacceptable. They want some answers.

My first question, Madam Speaker, is when did the government learn that the Power Corporation had underestimated their costs and were forced to go to the PUB for a huge low-water surcharge?

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, the Member is quite right that the Public Utilities Board hears all applications for increases in rates to the consumer. I was informed of a need for a surcharge on the low-water situation in February. At that time, the Public Utilities Board was also informed that there would be a requirement to hear an application for a charge for the problems in the low-water we were experiencing in this part of the hydro system. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the sole owner of the Power Corporation, what power does the government have to ensure the Power Corporation makes every effort to fund budget miscalculations internally?