Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to report to you today that a Northwest Territories Crown Corporation, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, has won three of the highest environmental honours available from a national environmental organization. The awards come from VCR Inc., a voluntary, non-profit organization in Ottawa designed to celebrate the achievements of members in limiting their greenhouse gas emissions.
The Power Corporation has attained Gold Level Champion Reporter status for excellence in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Members can earn bronze and silver awards for accounting for and reporting emissions, but only those members who actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions can achieve gold level. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to say that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has gone the extra mile and actually decreased its greenhouse gas emissions to below 1991 levels. Of some 980 registered members nation-wide, the corporation is one of only 45 gold level champions.
The corporation was further awarded first place in the Best New Submission category, and an honourable mention in the Electric Utilities category. The Power Corporation's prize-winning submission outlined a detailed and successful plan to reduce greenhouse gases.
The initiatives introduced by the corporation to reduce greenhouse gases include: development of hydro projects; recycling residual heat; improving efficiency of existing plants; replacing old-style streetlights; converting the Inuvik plant to natural gas; and installing wind energy conservation systems. Employing these methods, the Power Corporation has decreased greenhouse gas emissions by almost 14 percent since 1991.
Mr. Speaker, this achievement is particularly impressive when you take into consideration the difficulties associated with generating power in our harsh climate. It is my hope that the leadership the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has shown will encourage other northern organizations to follow suit and voluntarily record and reduce their greenhouse gases. Thank you.