Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is approximately right the estimate would be an increase of about five percent for western power users and a minimum of seven percent for Nunavut power users. Probably ten percent or higher, over what they are paying now. That is just an ongoing power cost. The residents of Nunavut would also have to finance the cost of a new headquarters, like an office building, which would drive up their costs even farther, Mr. Speaker. Those would be one time costs.
As things stand right now, there is no provision for the transfers from Ottawa to make up that difference, so all of those costs would come out of the pockets of rate payers. If the Member is asking about the power subsidy program, that is a government program. It would still be up to the two governments to determine whether or not that program still exists. It is not something that is tied to the existence of one power corporation or two power corporations. That is a government program. The current government chooses to fund that program out of dividends that are paid by the Power Corporation. I think it is important the public recognize it would still be a government decision as to whether or not there is a power subsidy program. I am confident both governments will decide there must be such a program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.