Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to add my contribution to the issue of energy policy in general. I would like to say for the record, I believe it is a good thing that we are undertaking this review. Given the developments in Hay River and Fort Simpson during the summer, it is time that we focused our attention to this issue. Mr. Speaker, I must say that I was not happy to see what was happening in Hay River and I think this sort of review should have happened before then.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to state clearly for the record that I do not support a wholesale privatization of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation if it is on the board as an option, especially if this has anything to do with lessening the pressure on the debt wall the government is facing, or as a means of raising fast cash.

Mr. Speaker, after all, we are talking about generation, distribution and regulation of the energy and power sector. It is even confusing to talk about energy and power and natural gas. I think the definition of energy and power is changing as we speak.

Mr. Speaker, I think we are also aware of the tremendous changes that the Power Corporation had to undergo within the last year as a result of having lost their service and their business in Nunavut. That is another issue that should be put on the "to do" list for this review team.

Mr. Speaker, I have not had a chance to talk to Mr. Robertson and I look forward to the opportunity to do so. I look forward to getting his report, in order to have a more focused discussion. I have researched a little bit on this issue and met with some of the people. I think there are so many issues that we need to deal with, that I cannot even talk about at the moment.

All I know is that the distribution of energy is an essential service in the North. It is not the most economical place in the world to produce that and distribute that, but it is like a railroad of long ago, where we have to be connected to the system. Not all parts are going to be able to afford everything and some parts have to be subsidized. It is an essential state service that we must have a plan to distribute, and we must find innovative ways to use the Power Corporation at its best, seeing as we have invested so much money into that. I applaud the government for reviewing it and I look forward to seeing the result. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause