Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier, the day before, had referenced this item that it had been discussed between Members and the Premier and that he felt we, as Members, should ask Cabinet to discuss it as well, but we didn't get into the discussion, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was discussed that we would discuss it later, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, my question is to the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. I am trying not to get too muddled into the little details here. Looking at what the response has been so far, he stated that the power subsidy or the rate rider that is applied in Yellowknife bumps up everybody in the Territories because we are all back to Yellowknife - those who are higher than Yellowknife - so are the communities paying more than Yellowknife getting hit twice; once, because it has been blended into the Yellowknife rate and then we are being tacked on after that? Looking from the power bills from my constituents, you see it very clearly. It's like the $18 surcharge that happens. It's over and above. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, rather than talking about the price per kilowatt and so on, just talk about what it costs for consumers and people who have to pay their bill. The shortfall rider is a flat rate that starts and is applied equally right across

the Territories to all consumers. There may be adjustments made as a result of the adjustment back to the Yellowknife rate, but I believe all of that is picked up by the territorial power support program. The amount the consumer is actually paying should be the same increase, to my understanding, in Inuvik as it is anywhere else. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister then explain, because he says it's applied equally across the board, and because this is a shortfall rider because the Power Corporation overall hasn't made money, are constituents of Inuvik paying more based on their own rate zone?

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I am not sure what the Member's question was, if they are paying higher than their own rate zone. I don't quite understand that. Thank you.

Could you clarify your question, Mr. Roland?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now in the NWT there are rate zones across the territory and that's what hit the fan a couple of months back about changing rate zones. My understanding is Inuvik right now falls into its own category. Because most are on gas and it's almost a 15 percent savings, consumers in Inuvik are paying a rate because the Power Corporation overall didn't make as much as they thought they would or is it because Inuvik has lost some money here? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, again, I will say the result of the shortfall rider on the consumer should be the same for Inuvik as it is for anyone else. Inuvik is already enjoying a 15 percent lower cost as the result of the gas fire generators than they would have if they had stayed on diesel, but most of that increase is balanced out through the territorial power support program. The end result should be that Inuvik is paying no more than its fair share as is all the other communities. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the Minister if he could put that down in written form so I can share with my constituents how this rate rider affects them and is paid before the power subsidy is applied and on what costs based on the Inuvik rate that we are paying. Thank you.

Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Yes, Mr. Speaker. I will put it on paper. I think that would be the easiest way. It is complicated. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Dent.