Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my statement, there is an energy strategy out there. I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the honourable Member for Nahendeh, the Deputy Premier. Since we have an energy strategy happening, we are using that as an excuse not to go with a one-rate zone for electrical power in the communities. Why, if we have all the information we need already, do we have to wait for the energy strategy to go forward with putting one rate zone in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The energy strategy that this government initiated about a year-and-a-half ago is scheduled to be in place by June. We are going through community-by-community consultations at this point in time. We are trying to develop the whole strategy. The one-rate zone is part of that whole package. To pull it out of that whole package to pursue it, we didn't go down that track because we want to have it in one single package, along with everything else. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we heard questions about harmonization and we heard what it might do to our people, we don't have all the information but we are going forward with it. I would like to ask the Deputy Minister what the difference is between the one-rate zone versus harmonization? What is the difference? We have more information here, but we don't go forward. Why don't we go forward? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are lots of differences and a lot of similarities, as well. But I guess the main difference is in terms of the strategy, we wanted to look at all the different ways we view energy in the NWT. One aspect of it is the way we provide power in our communities. Some communities have hydro, some communities have diesel, and now we have communities that have natural gas up in Inuvik. So there are different forms of energy. Before we get any further into it and rushing into it, we wanted to get the views of people in the NWT and come out with a good, comprehensive energy strategy that looks at all of these different approaches. We are talking about a natural gas pipeline coming down the valley and how we are going to deal with it. Are we going to ask for the pipeline to be close to communities, so we can access natural gas or is it going to be far away from them? All these different ideas are out there. There is talk about hydro as well. So, that is the approach that we're taking and I really believe that we need to have a good energy strategy and it takes time to have a high level of discussion in the communities and that is what people are saying in the communities, from the reports I've been getting. Thank you.

Thank you, that was a long answer but it wasn't the answer I was looking for. I would like to ask the Deputy Premier if he can answer my question: why the government doesn't want to go forward, if they have all the information because the strategy is going to be in June. Right now people are paying different rates of power in the community. In Rae-Edzo, they are paying almost twice the power as Yellowknife, and we are on the same hydro line, so, it is not fair to tell the smaller communities to pay more when everybody is trying to say, well, we're harmonized, we make everybody equal. Well, if we want the same medical care but then this government is doing wrong to the other thing, not trying to be fair and equal. I would like to ask the Deputy Minister, will he talk to his Cabinet and see if they can push forward without waiting for the strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the one-rate zone is not the only option but a lot of people in the House know this, that there are different options to look at it. Yes, I will address Cabinet to see if we could look at it in light of the fact that there is still a strategy process in place. I don't know how that is going to be done but I will ask. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to remind the Deputy Minister in the Cabinet that there was no strategy in place and they did try to implement the one-rate zone and we almost had it and then it was scrapped for whatever reason. I would like to ask him if he can work with the Regular MLAs on this side and see how we can work together as a consensus government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, I always like to work with Members on the other side. We are all here for one reason, to work with and for people in the whole North, that is, every community in the North and certainly we hear what the Member is saying and we will address that at the cabinet. Thank you.