Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi. As I mentioned in my Member's statement, discussion of a one -rate zone for power was delayed by Cabinet until the energy strategy was completed. Now that the energy strategy is completed, will the Premier and Cabinet direct the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to proceed with an application for a one-rate zone for power? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
In the Legislative Assembly on October 1st, 2003. See this topic in context.
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1119
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government and Cabinet have no intentions in the future of discussing this rather controversial issue. There are no plans to discuss it or other decisions made. Thank you.
Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I understand the Premier thinks that this is a controversial issue but, as I have said before in the House, we are here for the people, we are representing everyone in the Territories and every day we are saying that we want to treat them and make sure they get all the same benefits. By continually disregarding requests from Members from this side of the House, we are failing the people in the North. I'd like to ask the Premier again, if they will, when will they do it? Is it after the election? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe it will be the next government that will deal with this issue and it will be the Power Corporation that will make application for rate changes and the way which rates are charged. It is the Power Corporation that makes application through the Public Utilities Board. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier well knows, we on this side of the House had input when he was elected to Premier for this Legislative Assembly. When we did that we expected him to work for all of us, for the whole Territories. But by disregarding some of our questions and some of the requests that people are making, he is not doing his job. I'd like to ask him again, will he do his job and give direction to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation for a one-rate zone?
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
September 30th, 2003
Page 1120
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley, who has responsibility under the legislation to speak on behalf of the government and the Cabinet to the Power Corporation and the board that we have appointed to manage and administer that corporation's business. The government gives overall direction from time to time, and the Power Corporation's board manages and administers the corporation. It is very close to an election and we have recently completed the energy strategy and there is not sufficient time to give this the attention and debate that it deserves. It is the view of the Minister and myself that there will not be any direction from Cabinet regarding the issue the Member raised at this time. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Leon Lafferty North Slave
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have asked this question on more than one occasion. I have all the questions and answers here and every one of the answers I was given was that once the energy strategy was completed, they would deal with the one-rate zone. It is now completed. Why can't they deal with it? Why can't the Premier and his Cabinet deal with it? Thank you.
Supplementary To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the suggestion that the issue of a one-rate zone should not proceed until after an energy strategy was completed, debated and discussed and this government had found the time to set new direction and this has not happened. The corporation itself does not have the...(inaudible)...time to address that. The Minister concurs with that so that is where we are. We are at a point where there is not sufficient time to debate it. It is, as the Member knows, controversial. There is no consensus on this and I doubt very much that there is any political will or prospects of getting an agreement on it at this time. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Question 350-14(6): Single-rate Zone For Hydro Electric Power
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 1120
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.