Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, the board of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation took the initiative to create a one-rate power zone for power used across the Territories. Mr. Speaker, the idea of a one-rate zone means everyone pays the same rate for power use regardless of where they live in the Territories. This rate structure was something that most communities in the Territories who pay a higher power cost would have benefited from.

Mr. Speaker, before any meaningful input could be given, the Premier and Cabinet stepped in and stopped the public consultations. Cabinet stated that they wanted to hear from people with regard to the territorial energy strategy before any change to the rate structure was made. Consultations have taken place throughout the Western Arctic to hear the public and what type of energy Northerners want to use and how much they want to pay for power.

I know that the Energy Secretariat hopes to complete the strategy and have Cabinet table it for this June session. Mr. Speaker, time is short as session ends tomorrow and I, as well as my constituents, have been waiting to see the document. In particular, I would like to know how the input which people in my riding gave to the secretariat in February will be reflected in lower power rates. Mr. Speaker, I don't think my region is much different than any other region that consists of small communities. People in the commercial and private sector are having difficulty paying their power bills.

By introducing a one-rate zone, Cabinet would be doing much more than simply making the cost of living affordable for many Northerners. Most communities that rely on diesel generation already have a higher cost of living than those on hydro electricity. Most of the communities that benefit from the low rates of hydro electricity already benefit from being on a road system which, in turn, already lowers their cost of living.

This government has many initiatives on the go, many of which involve infrastructure partnerships which could increase the power rates even more, Mr. Speaker. Something has to give. These communities on diesel generation cannot afford to have their costs increased by government initiatives. I think it is time that we re-examine the structure for power rates, and move to either a one-rate zone or a system where we have a diesel generation rate or a hydro user rate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause