This is page numbers 4101 - 4140 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 4th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was housing.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed probably to the Premier in regard to the reviews that have been taking place on the energy needs and the Power Corporation and looking at the affordability of energy in the Northwest Territories. I’d like to ask the Premier how soon we can have a debate in this Legislature where those documents can be brought forward and tabled in this House so that a public debate can be had on this issue and the people of the Northwest Territories can see where we stand on this issue and what it’s going to do to improve the power rates for the majority of the people in the Northwest Territories.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The work of the Minister in lead of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee has presented early phases of the work to the standing committee and there are hopes that we’ll be able to put our GNWT response in as soon as, I believe it is April but I’ll have to confirm that.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

As I said in my statement, I think this is probably one of the achievements we can make as the 16th Assembly by doing something that

will really show results. I think we have to move on this. I think the people in our communities, especially the smaller communities, who are struggling to pay their bills these days, especially

the ones who are now unemployed and looking for work. It raises the importance of high energy costs and finding ways to reduce them.

I would like to ask the Premier how soon they can come forward so we can have a debate on this issue in this House.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

The response that we’re working on will have to come forward here. Any structural change to the way the rates are set up will have to come through this Assembly. There will have to be a debate. As I stated, the timing right now is looking at probably our spring session as an opportunity, but we’re hoping that if all goes well, that we could be looking at changes, if this Assembly agrees to them, before the next winter season hits us.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I believe that we do have to change the system and change an obsolete process. In regard to the legislation we have in this House, we have some outdated legislation regarding the PUB and the Power Corporation. I believe we will have to make some legislative changes.

I’d like to ask the Premier if he sees any legislative changes coming forward and when he intends to deal with them in this House.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

The rates, depending on the full response we put forward to the report that was put out there, we know there will be some structural changes using our existing legislation that is in place. For further changes we will have to go back to Members to see what can take place. I know that in the response we’re working on we’ll come forward before committee and lay out a timeline for that discussion and changes to be in place and implemented.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Premier for that, because I believe it’s fundamental change that people don’t like. Like anything else with change, it’s human nature to react first before realizing what they’re getting into. I’d ask the Premier to move on this matter and keep the public informed on where we’re going. I think at the end of the day they are the ones who will determine where we stand on this issue.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Indeed we know that any changes to our electrical structure rates and regulations will have an impact on the people we represent. We must have that discussion in this forum so that we know they are all aware of what the plan is and how we plan to move forward. There is a commitment that we will have that debate here. The Minister responsible will be providing further information on timelines. As I stated, if everything goes as we’ve anticipated, and the discussions and

final plans are put in place, we could see changes going forward as soon as the next winter cycle.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Premier. Considering that in Nunakput we have the highest cost of food in the NWT, will this government get more aggressive, comprehensive when calculating GNWT salaries and northern allowances for smaller northern communities?

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has highlighted that we, as the GNWT, through our Collective Agreement have a northern allowance that deals with the cost differences in our communities. That is a process that we use as we get into negotiation cycles. It’s difficult for me to put much detail on that, as it falls into our negotiation process. The Minister responsible would probably be able to give more detail on that. It is something that comes up during the cycles of negotiations with our employees.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Considering that two GNWT jobs, one in Yellowknife and one in the small, remote community, are doing the exact same things, requiring the same level of education, with an income difference of only a few thousand dollars, will this government finally implement realistic initiatives and policies that truly calculate salaries and earnings and other benefits for small, remote communities?

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

It’s always been a challenge for the Government of the Northwest Territories to have a competitive environment when it comes to our employees in our more remote communities as well as in our larger centres when the economy is heated. For us, as we go forward, it is something that is taken into consideration when the negotiation cycles come into place and that is something that we have discussions on with unions as well as we go forward. I’ll commit to getting the information from the Minister to the Member on how the northern allowance process works and the ranges that are in place for our communities.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

In Nunakput right now the economy is not heated. I wish some of the diamond mines would start hiring from our region. Will this government progressively work with the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Government of Canada to adopt changes to the Food Mail Program that will actually assist residents in the small, remote communities to eat healthy and live healthy?

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

We are involved in that review to a certain extent. It is a federal program but we have our commitment to stay involved and track it. We have offered suggestions and worked with the leaders that see this program and are involved and have requested changes. We’re staying committed to following it through to see what changes the federal government may bring forward.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the cost of living in the most northern communities makes healthy living a luxury for only the privileged that have government jobs, and given that currently the residents of Nunakput could pay up to $10 for small bags of salad and you can’t get anything else for $10 in Tuk, given the current approach, it seems just the revised status quo. Will this government place current review program on the food mail for the elders and assistance programs and priorities to get them involved?

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Premier

Again, the Food Mail Program is a federal program that we’ve become involved in in the sense of trying to come up with a coordinated approach from our side to the federal government. They have their hand on this. We’ll continue to pursue that from our side for any changes and so on. Again, we would have to work with those that have presented their case as well, to see what or how we can influence the federal government in making the necessary changes.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I talked about infrastructure needs for daycares in Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on that. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to reviewing the education plan of Lutselk’e and communicating with the local district authority on the plan? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty