Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to thank the Minister for his opening comments on Public Works and Services' initiatives for the upcoming year and the year beyond. As he is well aware with the opening comments from the GED committee on the Wood Pile Remediation Program, they are going to continue on with that, but I also wanted to talk about the energy conservation initiatives that Public Works is understanding. I know a lot of Members have been bringing up the point to the Minister in a lot of meetings we had with the Department of Public Works and Services about the conversion of GNWT buildings to electric heat, not only in Fort Smith but also on all the hydro serviced communities in the South Slave region. It would definitely be a huge undertaking to make the conversion, but I think the savings in the long run would definitely be beneficial for the government in reducing greenhouse gases and in saving money for the government's O and M. I really want to stress the importance that this initiative would mean to a lot of people in the South, not just GNWT buildings. I think a pilot project like this would send a strong message out to private industry and businesses that there is a savings in converting to electricity in the South Slave region especially where we are on the hydro grid. I just wanted to ask the Minister if the pilot project that they are doing in Smith, what is the status of it? Is there a bigger plan for them to convert, like the schools and hospitals and all government buildings and not just those but even assist in providing NGOs with electric heat in the South Slave region? Is there a big plan that's going to come after this pilot project is complete? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Robert Villeneuve on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 16th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 15th, 2007
Page 966
See context to find out what was said next.