Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, will be supporting the motion because it does call for a study from this government. I think that from our communities where we do have a high dependency on fossil fuels from running our power generation to heating our homes, that’s just the reality of a small, isolated community.
I think, Mr. Speaker, we do have to show our part to the rest of the world that we are being impacted by global warming, but more important questions to us is what are we doing to reduce our footprint and the impact on climate change. Mr. Speaker, I think we do have to show the rest of the world that we are facing this challenge head on. We are the ones that are realizing the most impact from climate change in regard to the effect it’s having on the Arctic and the Northwest Territories. I believe, Mr. Speaker, we do have to, as a government and as Canadians, realize that, next to the United States, we have a very high dependency on fossil fuels and the affect it’s having on global warming.
On that, Mr. Speaker, I do have to point out, like Mr. Menicoche, that we, from small communities, realize that this motion could have a very detrimental effect on the style of power we generate, the way we heat our homes by using these different types of fuels. Again, as the motion states, this government will be directing the government to do our research and analyze the problem and look at alternative fuels that we can come forward. I believe that the technology and basically looking at our energy strategies, looking at the greenhouse gas emissions and stuff that we’re trying in the Northwest Territories like hydro or looking at more dependency on natural gas is stuff that we have to come forward with.
Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to point out that, yes, the Government of the Northwest Territories purchases some 18 million litres of fuel, but the diamond mines use more fuel than that. I think, if anything, in the Northwest Territories we have to also approach the industry and let them know that we’d like them to consider these changes along with the Government of the Northwest Territories so that it is a real made-in-the-North solution in regard to finding ways to reduce our effects in regard to global warming and the use of fossil fuels which are affecting greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I, for one, feel that through this study and this research that we’re directing the government to do, and hopefully come forward before the end of the term of this government, that
we can use that information that’s presently being compiled. But again, I believe because this is a global challenge, especially with what’s happening worldwide, that we do have to do our part.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting the motion and realizing that we are doing our part to set the example for the rest of the world and the rest of the people in Canada. Thank you.