Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to clarify some discussion points on energy issues in a way that will help us move forward on the opportunities we have for developing these should we choose to do so.

At a recent opportunity I had to speak with consultants about energy issues I asked them whether northern utilities provided programs to help residents purchase appliances that would help reduce their energy cost. To my astonishment they responded that alternative energy was something that wasn’t feasible and went on about alternative energy. The response did not have anything to do with the question I asked. I’m concerned that might be a filter amongst others in the House preventing us from moving forward in a progressive way to take advantage of the opportunities we have; opportunities which offer job creation, environmental benefits and, of course, financial savings.

I rarely speak about alternative energy. The government may have a role in research and testing technologies. I speak about renewable energy; energy, forms of technology that are well proven, demonstrated in thousands to millions of homes and businesses around the world and, in fact, applicable here. In almost every case there is an instance or more in the Northwest Territories where these are in place.

When I talk about renewable energy I talk about hydroelectricity. This is off-the-shelf technology, especially run-of-the-river. The Yukon has had these in place for over four decades. We have opportunities and we have spent millions of dollars studying our opportunities, but not once have we put it in place yet.

I talk about solar water heating. We have solar water heaters in the Northwest Territories. They are saving us dollars and have reasonable payback time. This is not something to be tested and so on. These are demonstrated technologies.

I talk about biomass. We know there are millions of homes and tens of thousands of businesses that use this technology. In the Northwest Territories we are using it and in every case we have made big savings, created jobs, and been better off for the environment.

I ask that when we speak about these issues we don’t let these opaque filters slide over our faces, we actually must listen to the words that are spoken and realize that we’re talking here about real opportunities.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.