Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In seeing these decreases in the power rates, my understanding is it is the Public Utilities Board that will be the ones who set the power rates. If you see it in your power bills, that is where it will come from. How soon can a community demand or petition this government to call for the Public Utilities Board to call public meetings to see if those increases can be seen sooner than having to wait until everyone else is ready.
Debates of Feb. 19th, 1998
Topics
Supplementary To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Supplementary To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot speak as to whether or not a community could petition the Public Utilities Board for review. I do not know whether or not that is possible. I would like to remind the Member, the cost of a Public Utilities Board review is paid for by the people of the community. The cost, I can guarantee you, would be higher than any savings the community could possible see in the next two years. To have a public review done by the Utilities Board would cost the community more on their power rates in the long run than what could possibly be saved in utilities reductions right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In a note that calls that the Public Utilities Boards, the three years will end March 31, 1998. Is that when the public review will be held, March 31, 1998, which is next month, when they call a review of these power rates for the Western Territory?
Supplementary To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Dent.
Further Return To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Power Corporation will not be filing a new rate application for consideration by the Public Utilities Board any time in the next year and probably not for another two years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Further Return To Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Question 384-13(5): Community Energy Conservation Efforts
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Henry.
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had a question for a Minister but he is not available right now, but I would ask the Premier a question. Mr. Speaker, I use this time here to ask the government questions, items that are current. So the government gets an opportunity to talk to Members of this House and more importantly, the people of the Northwest Territories, explaining why they are doing things. For the past three days, Mr. Speaker, I have been trying to ask questions of Ministers who have been in town, have been in the legislative building but have not been available to answer questions. There are some Ministers, Mr. Speaker, who spend a lot of time and very seldom leave this House during Question Period. There are some who are consistently absent from the House, so the public of the Northwest Territories does not get an opportunity to hear these responses from the government. I would ask the Premier, would he please ensure that for that one hour, if the Ministers are not on duty travel, that they remain in the House so they can answer questions so the public of the Northwest Territories, who we are responsible to, can hear government positions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Mr. Premier.
Return To Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I agree with the Member 100 percent. I will direct the Ministers to be in the House for question period other than calls of nature or in some cases, like yesterday or the day before, we had a Russian delegation. Today, I stepped out, we had a Manitoba delegation, government to government, we had to leave for a few minutes. Other than that, they should be in the House, they should be answering your questions like I do. Thank you.
Return To Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Henry.
Supplementary To Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Premier's comments. I understand there are some Ministers who do arrange their schedules around question period and certainly, I understand that nature calls every so often, but I appreciate the Minister's comments and I appreciate him following up on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Question 385-13(5): Attendance Of Ministers
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
My question is directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I would like assurance from the Minister that before any changes are considered in Fort Smith that there will be a full community consultation. Can he give me that assurance please?
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.
Return To Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 942
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very close to being a hypothetical question. I would have to be assured that the community was in support of any request that I receive. A petition of 50 names from a larger community would probably not demonstrate to me the same level of support that a request
that had 50 names from a community of 120. In fact, they would be treated differently, there is no question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 943
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Supplementary To Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 943
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the fact that time has elapsed, I will just hold my further questions for the Minister until tomorrow. Thank you.
--Applause
Supplementary To Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Question 386-13(5): Public Consultation Re: Education Authority
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 943
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Question period is over. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Miltenberger.
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
February 18th, 1998
Page 943
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to report that the standing committee on government operations has reviewed Bill 10, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 1998 and wishes to report that Bill 10 is now ready for consideration in committee of the whole. Thank you.
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Item 12: Reports Of Committees On The Review Of Bills
Page 943
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Mr. Todd.
Tabled Document 52-13(5): Details Of Aurora Fund Expenditures
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Page 943
John Todd Keewatin Central
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled, Details of the Aurora Fund Expenditures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Tabled Document 52-13(5): Details Of Aurora Fund Expenditures
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Page 943
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Tabling of documents, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Tabled Document 53-13(5): Letter Dated February 11, 1998 From Mrs. Groenewegen To Mr. Morin
Item 13: Tabling Of Documents
Page 943
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to table two documents. The first is a letter dated February 11, 1998 from myself to the Premier requesting the notes from a meeting held with him and the assistant deputy minister of justice held on November 24, 1997.