Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to talk about Tamerlane and the Tantalus tragedy. When I think of the Tamerlane Ventures and their attempt to get hydro power from the NWT Power Corporation, I'm reminded of the Greek myth of Tantalus, whose punishment is now synonymous with temptation without satisfaction. The Greek gods punished Tantalus by forcing him to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree with low branches. Whenever he reached for the fruit, Mr. Speaker, the branches raised his intended meal from his grasp. Whenever he bent down to get a drink, the water drained from his feet so he could not get anything to drink.

So why tell this story, Mr. Speaker? Well, Tamerlane Ventures is forced to stand on their Pine Point property, where they can literally see the power lines out their front window, but the NWT Power Corporation won't give them any power. They won't even talk to them. As we all know very well, the NWT Power Corporation has an excess of five megawatts of power to sell from the Taltson hydro power, but they will not enter into discussions with Tamerlane about this or their power requirements. That power potential and customer just flows down the drain and is lost, Mr. Speaker.

So what then? Well, Tamerlane is actually forced to bring in diesel generators to supply power to their mining operation. Tamerlane Ventures is focussed on placing the Pine Point lead-zinc property into production. The deposit has historic resources of one million tons of grade zinc and lead. The company says their project will lead to almost a $90 million gross domestic product increase in the NWT that will generate almost $12 million in labour income and almost $16 million of other benefits through the south of the NWT.

Tamerlane has come to the Territories, filed their environmental application, negotiated with aboriginal groups, provided employment guarantees, training to our

residents, and yet the GNWT is not helping. Reputedly we hear about how companies are discouraged from exploring and further going forward on resource development because of the complex regulatory policies. We are now refusing to sell power to a mine -- clean power, Mr. Speaker -- which leaves very few options other than to bring forward diesel generators.

Mr. Speaker, at this time may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. The Minister of the NWT Power Corporation has told us that in order to bring down power rates, we need a large customer base. Well, here's an opportunity to expand the customer base, but the Power Corporation won't sell power to this potential customer that has deep pockets and is certainly willing to pay. But, Mr. Speaker, we'll certainly put the cost of power generation on our citizens at a 12 percent power rate.

Mr. Speaker, just like the intended hydro plan bill about running clean power up to the diamond mines, let's seize this opportunity to show that the government is open for business, not closed, by linking the hydro power to the Pine Point project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to bring my Member's Statement to the point of bridges since we're talking about the bridge that's going to benefit the people of the Northwest Territories; specifically the city of Yellowknife and also to the community of Fort Providence in terms of having a bridge being constructed across the mighty Deh Cho.

I want to ask and talk about my statement in terms of the Great Bear River bridge in the Sahtu River that has been somewhat postponed. I'm afraid to say cancellation because of the increased costs of this bridge. However, the people in our region have been waiting for a long time in terms of seeing what they can do to work with industry to increase the benefits into our region and to extend the winter operations such as oil and gas and mining exploration; also for the people in the Sahtu to use the winter roads. There's a very small window of opportunity for them to drive out with their families, do some shopping in Yellowknife, Hay River, even Fort Simpson, in terms of reducing their cost of living in terms of the grocery bills. But also to look at where they can look at opportunities for the communities to train and have businesspeople look at the types of benefits that could build capacity within their own community.

I'm here in somewhat, I guess, a frustrated mode in terms of the Deh Cho Bridge can get full support of this government, even on a risky basis, to go ahead with this and I certainly see the benefits of this and I would like to have the same type of opportunity to be given to the people of the Sahtu in terms of putting our bridge forward. It seems that we're getting stopped in terms of how do we put a bridge at the Bear River and not expand on some of the oil and gas companies that could be used in our region to boost our economies a little further there. So, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to remind the government that life is beyond the region here, and our region, so far, has been shut out and shut down and no wonder we hear comments of being the isolated region. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to speak today in support of the Premier's statement yesterday that the GNWT and the Fort Providence combined council are in the final stages of negotiating the concession agreement and project financing for the great Deh Cho Bridge project. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate that questions about the details are warranted and should be provided, and they will be forthcoming. I also respect that Members may have differing opinions on things. But I do believe very strongly that it's very important for us to not lose sight of the fact that this is a very important project that deserves ongoing support from this government.

Mr. Speaker, I may be going back a little in history, but during the last Assembly this was a particularly big issue of debate as the GED committee held hearings in Yellowknife and up and down the valley on a bill that would set up the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and allow the corporation to levy a highway toll on commercial vehicles to allow the bridge to happen. The law is very detailed on what the corporation is allowed to do and not, and many questions being asked now were thoroughly examined and answered to in the last Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, what we should keep in mind is that there is a need for public funds for building of a bridge like this and it's not a frivolous expense, it's a good investment. We incur enormous costs for businesses and individuals on a daily basis from being cut off from the rest of the world every spring and fall. In fact, during our public hearings, the NWT Trucking Association told us that the trucking companies charge premiums for having to cross the ferry, not to mention the cost that we bear as we watch the trucks idle on both sides of the river and the warehouse sits empty when the road is cut off, or when sometimes warehouses have to carry excess storage as well in anticipation of the closure of the road in the spring and fall.

Mr. Speaker, these costs will not go down; not the cost of building the bridge and not the cost of living for all of us who have to bear the cost. So, Mr. Speaker, another important aspect of this is the fact that this is a very important community project for the Fort Providence area who have not been able to benefit from a lot of industrial projects that are going on this end of the road. Mr. Speaker, the details of this project are important and they need to be answered, but I want to make it very clear that I support...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Minister responsible for the Status of Women, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We're joined in the gallery today by a number of people who are with the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories who were here at noon for the press conference announcing the northern women in mining, oil and gas project. Sharon Thomas is the executive director of the council; Theresa Handley is the office manager. On this side of the House she's also known as the boss's wife.

---Laughter

We are also joined by Leila Besarra who is the community development worker; Lorraine Phaneuf who is programs and research manager; Renea Agrey who will be running the northern women in mining, oil and gas project; Cassandra English who is the assistant researcher; and Samantha Dechief who is the executive and programs assistant. With them is Karen Willy who is the acting special advisor to the Minister responsible for the Status of Women. I know that on behalf of all Members, Mr. Speaker, we'd like to say thanks for the pencils and we'd like to encourage all Members to remind their female constituents about this program and encourage them to take part in it. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize all the Status of Women delegation and particularly my wife, Theresa. She's not the boss's wife; she is the boss.

---Laughter

But without her support it would be very difficult to do my job and I appreciate that. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize my wife, Judy, who's down here on annual leave to come and watch us in the Assembly. I'd also like to recognize -- they were in the gallery just a couple of minutes ago -- two constituents of mine: Elijah and Mabel Allen, who were down also for, I think, graduation ceremonies taking place tomorrow and they thought they'd take in some of the Assembly. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. It's always nice to have an audience. I hope you're enjoying the proceedings. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In following my Member's statement today about the concern of Tamerlane not being able to hook up to clean hydro energy, Mr. Speaker, I have questions to the Minister of the Power Corp. The first question would be: Can the Minister of the Power Corp tell me if the Power Corporation is mandated to make a profit and how do they justify not selling surplus power to Tamerlane Ventures? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are in the business to make a profit and we have definitely been working with Tamerlane with regard to discussions we have had with them to trying to assist by supplying power. Again, we do have to work out a power purchase agreement and make sure they do have the project.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister brings interesting news, because the vice-president had just recently told me that they are not in any type of discussions to formalize any type of power agreement. So could the Minister at least take back this as a commitment to look into this a little further and to make sure that we are proceeding with this? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will commit to meeting with the Power Corp, but I have spoken with my office this morning and they have informed me that they are in discussions with Tamerlane in working out an agreement. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.