Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is not

news to anyone that the NWT residents pay very high costs for electricity compared to southern Canada. Some of the extra costs can be explained by economies of scale. However, I believe that more could be done to reduce the NWT Power Corporation's expenses and the burden they put on our ratepayers.

The NWT Power Corporation's electricity rates are approved by the Public Utilities Board and are based on the case the corporation makes to the PUB

for its revenue needs based on expenses.

I believe this approach is backwards and needs to be revisited. It does not provide enough accountability for its spending. The NWT Power Corporation should be adjusting its expenses based on revenues, not the other way around. In other words, it should have a budget set for it by this Assembly. It should have to work within that budget instead of going back to the power customers — people like you and me — for more and more money. Where is the incentive for the NWT Power Corporation to look for savings and efficiencies to keep their costs down? There are none.

For example, I've heard people question the shiny new trucks and the performance bonuses at a time when the cost of living keeps increasing. Our power bills are already too high, and the government is cutting back. So where is the Power Corporation's incentive to hustle for that buck? There isn't one.

When the customers are held hostage, there is little incentive for them to ever worry about the customers leaving, because there are no other utilities for them to go to. Where is that accountability to this Legislature? It's one customer, Mr. Speaker. So I will be interested in hearing what the Minister has to say is his approach for alternative ways to ensure that the NWT Power Corporation works as thriftily as possible so they do not pass unnecessary expenses on to their customers.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The

honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

[Translation.] Today what I’d like to

talk about is the transportation from Pine Point to

Hay River. There is some money put aside for that project. We’re still short of some funding, but I’m sure we could come up with something. Also, I’d like to mention the dust in Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. There’s so much dust in that area. I’d like to mention that too. There’s a lot of work that’s going to have to be done there. But with Lutselk’e and Deninu Ku’e, I like that the leaders are there. The government had transitioned from Fort Smith to Yellowknife, so when I go to Fort Resolution and Yellowknife or to Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution, I like to talk about the housing issue.

The things that are going with the housing issue…. But now we have someone in the region, in Lutselk’e right now, from Housing. I was wondering if you could have someone from your government department seconded to come to Lutselk’e to work with them for at least five months so that they could go back to when the government first started the program here, so that they could be assisted with working with the management. Also, we have social services programs, people in the legal department, and people at social services are working with the youth. They are overwhelmed with work. It is very hard to work with the people. Also, the high cost of living in the communities…. When I have questioned the government, they are also making an effort to look into it, but when it comes to the teachers in the education department....

Another thing: the elders’ facility that was supposed to be repaired. The money that was taken back…. Even though money was put aside, it does not suffice. So we’re asking the government if we’re going to have any funding to repair the facility. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. [Translation ends.]

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Members’

statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr.

Speaker, today I

recognize the passing of two long-time Yellowknifers and Northerners.

I wish to pass on my sincere condolences to the family of the late Danny Pagotto, son of long-time Yellowknife residents Camillo and Carla Pagotto. Danny is survived by his parents, his wife, Kim, daughter, Marika, sons, Sam and Taylor, and also his brother, Steve, and his wife, Shannon, and family.

Danny grew up in Yellowknife, worked as a real estate appraiser and became a pilot with Air Tindi. Danny loved to fly and worked his way quickly up to captain and flying Twin Otters. In recognition of

Danny, Air Tindi has dedicated a plane in his name and in his honour. Danny was a big and tough defenceman who played junior hockey in Alberta before returning and playing in the local recreational hockey league. Danny was 44 years old and put up a very courageous battle. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Pagotto family today.

Condolences also go out to the family of the late Gary “Juggy” Jodrell. Juggy was a member of the world fastball champions, the Richmond Hill Dynes, in the early 1970s before he was recruited to come and play fastball here in Yellowknife. Juggy worked for the city and left for a few years before returning to Yellowknife for good. Juggy was a slick second-baseman who could hit and field anything. He was also a fine hockey player who played in the Yellowknife commercial, recreational and old-timer leagues. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held on June 21 in the Shorty Brown arena.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4,

returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my

statement, the Beaufort at one time played a very important role in a lot of the technology and expertise and Arctic research and development. I’d like to ask the Minister of ITI, knowing that we have another opportunity at our doorstep — which, basically, we lost a number of years ago…. It’s back, and I think the North should take advantage. We have to do whatever we can to promote that industry. I’d just like to ask the Minister of ITI: is this government involved in any way with the federal government in dealing with Arctic research and trying to promote this development on the positive side — not simply as an oil and gas opportunity but as an opportunity to take advantage of Arctic exploration, development and research?

Thank you, Mr.

Krutko. The

honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our

government has promoted investment in geoscience over the years and has been fairly successful in getting the federal government to invest in geoscience. As well, we have put together proposals to Industry Canada over the years, and

we have developed expertise so that the Government of the Northwest Territories can play an important role in oil and gas development.

Mr. Speaker, I think it’s critically

important that this government does everything it can, like it has with the diamond industry, to promote and enhance that industry to make everyone aware that we have an opportunity here to really do some good work and work with industry along with government and the residents of the Northwest Territories.

I’d like to ask the Minister: exactly what is this government doing to promote the oil and gas development in the Beaufort Sea, similar to what we did with the diamond industry?

Mr. Speaker, I think the most

important thing to promote the development of oil and gas would be for our government to quickly negotiate resource revenue-sharing and devolution agreements so that we can control the pace of development here in the Northwest Territories. Certainly as a government we spend time and effort to make sure that Canadians and others are aware of the importance of natural gas in dealing with reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Also, without the discovery of these additional resources, we won’t be able to find ways to reduce the cost of living.

It’s important to recognize that we need resources and expertise to do so, and in order to get additional investment and to promote devolution, we need to get the support of people in southern Canada. Our government has been a leader in promoting the Beaufort Sea and oil and gas in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, as we know, there have

been several research activities taking place in regard to Japex with regard to gas hydrates in the Beaufort Sea. I know they work with the Arctic institute out of Inuvik. I’d like to ask the Minister: what are we doing to expand our technical advantage by using the Arctic institute in Inuvik and expanding that institution to take on more of this work?

The Arctic institute, or the

Aurora Resource Institute, was a project leader with the Mallik Gas Hydrate Project, which involved several federal departments and also the Japanese national oil and gas company. Through the efforts of Aurora Research Institute and a significant investment by the Japanese oil and gas company, we were very successful in being able to prove to the world that, utilizing conventional oil and gas techniques and practices, we were able to flow oil from gas hydrates using a combination of heat and pressure. So the Japanese have gone back very quickly to take advantage of that technology.

Here in Canada we need more partnerships developed. We have to work much more closely with the federal government to develop a truly national program, something akin to what was used to develop the oil sands in Fort McMurray.

I believe it’s gravely important for this

government to not only take part in these research activities but that we take ownership of the materials, the research itself, and also the findings of that research that’s going on. That has value, and it also gives an ability as government to be a real player in the oil and gas industry by being able to do this research, taking advantage of a lot of this research material and taking ownership of it. I’d like to ask the Minister what exactly we’re doing as a government to not only take part in this research but to take ownership of that research.

Part of the reason — and I’ll

defer to my colleague from Education, Culture and Employment — for taking the leadership role with this project was for research purposes and to have access to the research results. Now, the next step is to work with the federal government so that we can interest commercial companies to develop the gas hydrates that are in the Beaufort Sea. The reserves are very significant. The estimates range from 9 trillion cubic feet to 3,500 trillion cubic feet. So it’s very significant.

Thank you, Mr.

McLeod. The

honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Mr. Speaker, given that the Health

and Social Services Return of Service bursaries are funded out of the Department of Health and Social Services and the policies are written by Health and Social Services and it’s administered by Human Resources, I’m choosing to ask my questions to the Minister responsible for Health and Social Services.

In my Member’s statement I talked about the Return of Service bursaries that the department provides. To be clear, I think the bursaries are a fantastic idea, and I think they have a lot of value. My concern is mostly around the fact that there are a large number of bursaries out there for individuals who have not returned to the Northwest Territories or did not complete their studies. As such, they should be returning their money. I believe that not much, or nothing, has been done to collect these dollars back. I was wondering if the Minister could tell me what process they’re using to collect these dollars and whether or not they’ve begun to collect the majority of the dollars that are owed.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The

honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I

appreciate the Member raising this question. I am not aware of any specific situations where the beneficiaries of those bursary programs are…. I don’t have the numbers handy, and I will inquire into that. I am aware, though, that in certain circumstances, especially for physicians who take advantage of our programs, they get hired by other provinces that offer to pay the Return of Service Agreement money outright. So I’d be happy to look into how many individuals have benefited under these programs, how many have returned, what is outstanding and what steps we take to collect any outstanding receivables.

Physicians are certainly one side

of it. I believe that in the last couple of years 13 or 14 bursaries have been awarded to medical students. I think two or three of those individuals have successfully completed their studies. I also believe none of them have returned; I’m not sure whether or not the dollars have been collected. I’d be curious to know whether or not the department is actually trying to track down those dollars.

More specifically, we have a large number of nursing students. To the credit of northern students, the vast majority of the northern students have returned and have actually begun to return the service. But a large number still haven’t returned, and in the last couple years we’ve had larger numbers of these northern students actually graduate from Aurora College and head south.

Specifically what is being done to track this, and what is the status of those individuals who have left the North without returning their service, either by time or money, and will the department be collecting these dollars from those individuals?

There’s a lot of specific

information being inquired about here that I’m not in possession of. I’d be happy to get that information for the Member.

The latest information I saw on the physicians…. The time of training that they require is long. We have not really gotten to the stage where we can have the benefit of the number of the med students we are paying for. I think the first crop of grads we can see is two or three years from now.

With the students who trained at Aurora College, once they are finished, if they took advantage of SFA or any other programs, they do have mobility rights and they do go all over the place. I am aware of that. But we do keep a number of them home. Every one of them is subject to an agreement. I’m sure we have measures to keep track of them and make sure that if they choose not to come back, we

will recover the costs. I’d be happy to get the details for the Member.

I will be asking a written question

later for the details, which is what the Minister has already committed to.

A large number of individuals — the majority — clearly are returning their service and are working in the Territories. I’m concerned about those few nursing students who choose to immediately leave and go down south, and they haven’t paid back their money.

I’m wondering what recourse the Department of Health and Social Services has in order to ensure that they collect these dollars. I don’t believe it’s appropriate to be giving these people free money without meeting their Return of Service obligations. It’s also true for those individuals who either drop out or choose not to complete their studies. Their obligation is to return as the profession they’re studying. So if they don’t complete, technically they should be repaying those dollars.

Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that with

the recent crop of nursing grads from Aurora College, out of 18 grads 13 have been placed. I understand a few of the five chose to move south for family reasons and other reasons. I’m sure they would have had some kind of placement in the North. Perhaps Mr.

Abernethy has specific

examples we could follow up on. I am aware that every one of them has to sign the Return of Service Agreement. Those are binding legal contracts that we need to enforce, and I’ll just verify that with the department.

Thank you, Ms.

Lee. Final

supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.