This funding is intended to promote environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure. Municipal and Community Affairs has pushed to broaden the project criteria for gas tax funding so that communities can use it to support energy efficient components of other infrastructure; for example, solar panels on a community office.

Mr. Speaker, Whati has been a leader in exploring options for energy conservation and alternative energy sources. However, Whati is not the only community undertaking work in this area. For example, Jean Marie River is looking into solar panel options for the band office, and Colville Lake is exploring alternative energy sources for the new water treatment plant.

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Mr. Speaker, we may never be able to keep up with the cost of fuel, especially at the current consumption level, so it is critically important to look at alternatives, and to support the community governments to lead the work on this at the community level.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the departments of Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs are taking action to address the ever-rising costs of energy. Rising costs will continue to be an ongoing issue, so it is essential that we look for innovative approaches to reduce energy consumption, limit costs and increase efficiency in

our use of non-renewable resources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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