Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently high fuel costs and concerns about global warming have put extra emphasis on energy conservation. In response to these concerns, the government has adopted the Energy Conservation Action
Plan and, in support of the plan, the Department of Public Works and Services is designing buildings that are more energy efficient.
Two good examples are the designs of the new school in Tulita and the renovated school in Gameti. They follow standards from the federal Commercial Building Incentive Program, CBIP, to minimize fuel and power consumption over the life of the buildings. CBIP helps offset the extra cost of designing energy-efficient buildings. This Natural Resources Canada program provides design assistance and funding of up to $60,000 for eligible organizations, based on building energy savings.
The application of CBIP criteria and the use of further resources available through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada programs, like the Aboriginal and Northern Community Action Program, increases the GNWT's efforts on energy efficiency and climate change management. Any additional project design or construction costs are more than offset by savings achieved through immediate reduction of fuel and power consumption and lower long-term operating costs for our facilities.
Mr. Speaker, it is now a requirement for all new or renovated GNWT buildings to be designed to obtain CBIP certification. This requirement has been included in the 2006 edition of Good Building Practice for Northern Facilities. At this time, CBIP projects being designed include:
- • the new school in Ndilo;
- • the Northwest Territories law courts facility in Yellowknife;
- • the schools replacement project in Inuvik;
- • the children's treatment centre in Hay River; and
- • the new wildlife laboratory and forestry centre in Yellowknife.
Public Works and Services and the GNWT as a whole have a firm commitment to reducing energy costs in buildings for the benefit of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause