Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleagues today, I would like to chime into the Deze Taltson expansion issue. Mr. Speaker, I feel very strongly that any hydro expansion needs to be based on environmental and economic opportunities. I believe strongly, as well, that this

shouldn’t continue to be a direct initiative pursued by our Legislature.

Mr. Speaker, the risk at this time is solely on the shoulders of the GNWT. As I understand it, the cash to date has only come from the GNWT pockets. This Legislature has found ways to waive the PUB review process and with our one-third partnership, I often wonder what’s left for the other two-thirds partnerships to contribute other than to wait for their own dividends.

The question of public accountability continues to be made about who Deze is truly accountable to. With a one-third partnership of Northerners being represented through this House, do we really have accountability? This raises the issue of the lack of accountability for public interests, because it is certainly not seen there.

The business case has been based solely on the fact that the diamond mines will be there to support this project. To date it is my understanding that there is still no power purchasing agreement to be signed. Great rhetoric would hail the fact that if this was such a wonderful opportunity, these diamond mines would be dragging us to the table to sign this deal. I have yet to see their enthusiasm and I keep continuing to hear that they don’t want it and they continue to stall it as long as possible.

We will hear that the east side of the lake route seems to be the best one according to Deze. Let us remind the Members and the public that this is through a national park that only represents the business case of the Deze Corporation.

It is my view that we have never fully and fairly considered the alternative routes that we’re all familiar with: the ones over the Simpson Islands or underneath the water. That may add an additional $20 million to $50 million, but Deze believes, as I understand it, that this is either too much of a cost and the rate of return will either be way too slow or way too low. These routes could provide significant public benefit for everyone. If those costs are true and are being given fair evaluation, we could use that as an opportunity to take a business case to the federal government to say with your assistance we could help to continue lowering the price of power throughout the Northwest Territories, providing assistance to lowering the cost of living throughout the Northwest Territories.

In closing, the hydro dam is a public resource. We need to ensure that the public is seen as a partnership in this resource. I will have questions later today for the Premier.