Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome everybody back to the House. Mr. Speaker, during the June session, I raised concerns about the way that Cabinet made decisions. I stated that Cabinet was creating strategies and documents without including all MLAs. I stated the practice of consensus government was not being followed in the process of decision making.
Mr. Speaker, in today's newspaper, I learned that Cabinet has fired the Northwest Territories Power Corporation board because the directors refused to withdraw an application for a flat rate. Mr. Speaker, the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation gave direction to the board to proceed for a one-rate zone. Another Minister planned to publicly lobby against this and then last week, the Premier told the board to drop the review.
Mr. Speaker, the lack of coordination among Cabinet is disturbing. Not only is it confusing, it short-changes Northerners, the 35,000 shareholders of the corporation. With the review shut down, Northerners will not have a chance to explore options for creating fair power rates.
Mr. Speaker, we lack input from the smaller communities who all depend on generated power and who also pay the highest rates in the Territories. This action taken by Cabinet is disturbing and disrespectful. It sends a message that a board must follow Cabinet's inconsistent and confusing direction, rather than act in the public interest.
Mr. Speaker, the board was working in the public interest but it appears that Cabinet is not. Perhaps Cabinet might have been better to consult with other communities and territorial leaders before halting this review. It is an about-face by Cabinet on the direction the Power Corporation needs to go in. People's reputations are harmed and careers are jeopardized.
As far as I am concerned, Mr. Speaker, any future boards might as well be made up of another set of deputy ministers that are tied to Cabinet. At the appropriate time, I will have questions on this matter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause