Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to introduce Bill 18, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.

Members will recall last year’s release of Creating a Brighter Future, a comprehensive response to almost two years of extensive consultations held with communities, key stakeholders, the general public, and Regular Members. Creating a Brighter Future detailed this government’s public commitment to a number of specific actions with respect to the Northwest Territories’ electricity system, including commitments to introduce amendments to the Public Utilities Act.

These legislative amendments have been drafted to advance the vision of an efficient, equitable, and

transparent electricity system, and include provisions which will:

• clarify the Executive Council’s ability to issue

broad policy direction to the Public Utilities Board while at the same time not restricting or limiting the Public Utilities Board authority to decide on individual cases;

• allow for the establishment regulations

regarding the general rate application process and submissions by utilities. This change would allow for standardized filing requirements that would specify the level of detail and background information to be provided in a general rate application;

• enable the Minister to seek the Public Utilities

Board’s advice on matters that are solely within the Minister’s discretion without offending the principles of procedural fairness or improperly delegating his or her authority; and

• provide for amendments of a general

housekeeping nature to modernize the act, and to remove or modify any overly perspective language.

Mr. Chairman, I trust the committee will find the amendments satisfy public commitments to amend the Public Utilities Act. These amendments will advance the vision of safe, reliable, and affordable electricity available through our territory, and reflect the essential nature of electricity services for Northwest Territories Communities. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.