Mr. Chair, of course the reason I am looking at this is because it is sort of part of the dollars indicated under energy planning, I believe. Am I correct that we actually did have that in past years? For some reason it is not on the page.

Mr. Chair, thanks again for that explanation. I didn’t realize we were talking about different categories there. We have a new category here which is now NT Energy core funding for staff. I think I understand now. Again, a substantial drop from $1.25 million and, plus, $4.75 million in the past. This year $700,000 is the replacement figure.

Just quickly in my head, we are going from $6 million down to $700,000. Again, it is quite a drop and at a time – at the risk of repeating myself over departments – when energy issues and cost of living are indeed the issue of the day as well as economic development, which this is the biggest factor in supporting.

I know we have mines that are being considered under environmental review for hydroelectricity. We have grids in the NWT that we would like to see tied

together. We have communities that are not – they are currently on diesel energy – that have had substantive feasibility work done, who are hollering for stabilized and reduced power prices, especially in the face of the 30 percent increase, that is, plus it is proposed now over the next few years. Some decisions have been made and choices have been made. I think I am not very comfortable with those choices, given that this has been repeatedly identified as a major issue for us.

I look forward to further discussion on this page. I think we did a deferral in ENR; we could do another one here. I think the issues are closely tied together, and should there be a proposal to defer this page, I certainly would support that proposal. I look forward to further discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. More of a comment, unless the Minister would like to reply to that one.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand what the Member is getting at and I appreciate his point of view. Thank you.

On the floor I have Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the point is that in terms of energy and in terms of what’s been proposed in terms of the public consultation in terms of looking at the Power Corporation, I can’t help but sense the plight of consumers and their concern because of the increased costs of energy that we provide to our communities. I think as a responsible government we need to ensure that we create options for our consumers. I think the initiatives in terms of some of the alternative energy programs that this government has undertaken is good and I think it’s a good step. There’s nothing really stopping us from trying to go all the way to create at least some initiatives that are very friendly. Like today, I think one of the key initiatives that have been clearly supported is the biomass initiative, and the news indicated that it’s doable at the community level. Communities can have plans of processing pellets so that they have an alternative to provide heat to their houses and businesses.

On one hand we tried to create business opportunities and make it a very conducive climate for business to operate, and to try and invigorate the economy we need to be mindful that we don’t constrain at least the business sector and the people that create jobs and opportunities. We need to ensure that they have a liaison, some alternatives in terms of energy sources.

So, clearly, energy is something that I would think we’d place priority on and ensure that we create some alternatives. I think the public would expect us to do that.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s comments. There is a correlation there with the cost of energy and developing the economy and whether or not businesses have that atmosphere or the environment to succeed in. Utility costs are something that we need to pay attention to certainly. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Mr. Nadli. Thanks. Moving on to questions I have Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question for the Minister. I know the Minister sits with the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee. Is that true?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Ramsay.

Yes, it’s the Ministerial Energy and Coordinating Committee and Climate Change. Yes, climate change is included in there.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Did they release an NWT energy report in the 16

th that’s

going to be looked at in the 17

th ?

Yes, in the 16

th Assembly

that was released by the 16

th Assembly by the

Government of the Northwest Territories, facilitated through the former MECC. Thank you.

Thank you. This Assembly, this MECC plus the climate change added onto the name now, are they going to look at renewing this Energy Plan?

Yes, that includes $150,000 for the renewal of the NWT Energy Plan coming for the 17

th Assembly. Thank you.

We’ve been talking on this side about the different initiatives or projects. These will then look at the GNWT’s priorities and beyond, I guess, forever. So this new report will then undertake this major initiative to explain to us what the priorities are in light of what we’ve been hearing today and the last couple of months.

The Energy Plan will be developed in conjunction with Regular Members and with an effort to look at projects around the Northwest Territories, and where we can move the development of energy in our territory over the next three and a half years. Thank you.

I want to switch gears now a little bit here with the NWT Hydro Strategy. The Minister is overseeing this Hydro Strategy also?

Yes, again through MECC and through NT Energy. Thank you.

Can the Minister tell me, when they’re involved in the NWT Hydro Strategy, are they going to be doing various types of baseline data gathering, assessments and doing this for the whole Northwest Territories to indicate where the hydro potential areas are? Like had been mentioned earlier, they’ve done some work in Whati and Lutselk’e and Bear River, and I want to show where the other areas are. Will this information that they’re collecting all be wrapped up into a Hydro Strategy? I make the assumption on the presumption that the dollars will be on target to say well, this is the area that people need to develop further, hence my question on when are they going to start construction on the Bear River dam.

The work continues toward the Hydro Strategy through the NT Energy Group and the staff that are there, and that work will continue. Thank you.