Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I made a Member’s statement with respect to the Taltson expansion and the importance of making decisions on a territorial resource that is in or for the public good. I followed that statement up with questions to the Premier and encouraged him to put the interests of the people of the Northwest Territories at the forefront of Cabinet decision-making on this project.
I strongly encouraged the Premier to work with Deze in the best interest of the people and, as a stakeholder, encourage them to consider alternate routes where long-term benefits are greater for the people. The Premier’s response, as presented in yesterday’s unedited Hansard, was, “alternate routes have been looked at by the Hydro Corporation and the Power Corporation.” He went further and indicated that, based on those reviews, “this project will not work. We will not be able to sell energy to the mines for an acceptable rate. They will not sign power purchase agreements for a cost higher than they’re able to develop it for in today’s environment.” This is a rather defeatist attitude and suggests that the only opportunity we have to make this work is to rely on the existing diamond mines.
I suggest that there are other opportunities. There are other mining development possibilities, and with access to local and reasonably priced power in the North Slave Geological Province we may find greater amounts of exploration and development, which is good for the entire Northwest Territories.
Further, the Premier must not fail to consider the advantages of linking existing systems by way of grids; grids which would open the possibility for exploration and development in areas which could access power from resources such as Snare Hydro where their current capacity is completely consumed by Yellowknife. This project has huge potential for all of the Northwest Territories. It must not be given away for short-term gain.
Related, I was concerned that the Premier discussed only one alternate route. Specifically, he said, according to yesterday’s Hansard, “Adding approximately $100 million-plus to the project by going around the west side of the lake would put that project in a place where it is uneconomical and
we have no project.” There are other alternatives. Yes, the western route is the most expensive, but other routes like the trans-island route, which has a projected cost of base plus $40 million, are not that much more and put power within reach of Yellowknife, the diamond mines, and other mining opportunities such as Avalon’s rare earth metal project north of Great Slave Lake. This cannot be ignored.
Regardless, once we have signed supp No. 2 later this week, the GNWT will have no room in its borrowing limit and this whole thing can’t go ahead unless a reasonable and responsible third-party partner is found. I encourage the Premier to refocus this project to find a third-party partner who, in addition to understanding the value of making a profit, understands the social importance.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted.