Is committee agreed?

Let’s move back to 7-22. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was just asked by my colleague to ask a few questions in regard to the area of petroleum products but more in regard to as we realize the area of supply of wood pellets. It’s getting big in the Northwest Territories and I think that also because petroleum products does provide fuel products to our communities, have they considered by looking at other products that they can bring into the communities such as wood pellets to supply communities with not only diesel fuel and gas but maybe consider wood pellets as an alternative heat source for the communities so people can convert over to wood pellet stoves in their communities and cut down on the cost of fossil fuels? Is this something that the department can consider under petroleum products as another type of material that can be brought into the communities as part of your resupply for fuel products? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, we are considering other products, more specifically wood pellets, and we are doing the assessment now. It’s 90 percent complete and we will be having the results in April.

I’d like to thank the Minister for that. As government we are putting a lot of money into government retrofits and conversions in regard to public buildings regardless if we’re talking about schools or government facilities in our communities. I think if we’re talking about expanding outwards into the communities, this again is another area that I feel the department of petroleum products can expand in, and more importantly, look at alternative types of fuels and materials. I’d just like to ask the Minister in regard to doing this type of initiative, is it going to be done in-house or are we looking at contracting out to provide the pellets?

Mr. Chair, we have hired outside help. We have a consultant hired to do the analysis and we’re also working with the Arctic Energy Alliance and we are looking at the business case to see if it’s viable. The Member is very adamant about actual numbers and we want to ensure that we have this calculated properly and bring this forward if everything goes right. Thank you.

Mr. Chair, can the Minister tell me exactly when you intend to conclude the study and maybe look at the possibility of either recommendations or consideration of implementing it or bringing it forward to either committee or Members of the Legislative Assembly so that we can see, again, where we are going to consider alternative fuel sources for communities? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, the study is ongoing right now. We have expectations to be finalized in April. Then we will do an analysis of what the findings are and decide on the next steps from there.

Thank you. Page 7-23, Public Works and Services, activity summary, petroleum products, operations expenditure summary, $2.134 million.

Prior to going back, we had just concluded 7-26, so we are now on 7-27, Public Works and Services, information item, Technology Service Centre (chargeback), active positions. Mr. Krutko

Mr. Chairman, in regards to chargebacks, again, with the advancement in telehealth and telemedicine and the possibility of improving health care services in our communities, I think it is important that we have either technicians on the ground or technicians working within the different departments to ensure that we are able to enhance that program and deliver on it, because from what we have seen in communities I have been in in the health centres, in Fort Liard and elsewhere, and talking to the nursing staff that had new equipment brought in, it really improves the delivery of health care. Again, I think it is important that we develop the bandwidth, but more importantly, making sure that we have someone with the technical services such as the Department of Public Works to ensure that we have the people there, like the technicians and whatnot, to provide that. I would just like to know where we are working with the Department of Health and Social Services in regards to expanding our systems by way of telehealth in our communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, we certainly agree with the Member’s comments about the TSC and the services and especially in the area of health, improving services to our smaller communities. We do provide support across the board. Usually the health authorities are in a position to have their own staff on board to help them with the technical side of the repairs or upgrades and things of that nature, but we also provide broad support to all of the communities.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. We are on 7-27, Public Works and Services, information item, Technology Service Centre (chargeback), active positions.

Page 7-28, it is also an information item, Public Works and Services, Public Stores Revolving Fund.

We are moving along to page 7-30, Public Works and Services, information item, Petroleum Products Revolving Fund. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to question here the surplus deficit. After looking at income and expenditures for this fund is a deficit of $232,000 and yet the description at the top indicates that it is supposed to be a breakeven operation. Could I get an explanation as to why this is a deficit and is it a certain point in time only? That is it. Thanks.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Guy.