Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about an issue of great concern to the residents of Inuvik. The issue is that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has applied to the Public Utilities Board for a general rate application proposing new power rate structures. Generally, the new proposed rate structure is based on the Power Corporation covering the actual cost of service and to create new rate zones.
Madam Speaker, this means that over the next two to four years, our rates in Inuvik will increase from the current rate of 26.98 cents per kilowatt hour up to 38.43 cents per kilowatt hour, an increase of 42 per cent. This is intolerable to residents of Inuvik, who are already paying a high cost for
power, as compared to the residents in the other larger centres of the Northwest Territories.
One of the principles in proposing the new rate structures is fairness and equity. If that is so, then I contest that this principle is not being applied in Inuvik's case.
Madam Speaker, I have always stated and emphasized in this House that Inuvik has many unique and different features as compared to most other communities. For example, in Inuvik, the majority of the power ratepayers are now private or commercial users. The Government of the Northwest Territories has nearly completed the privatization of their staff housing and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation has had a big push on for home ownership. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue my statement.