Thank you, Madam Chair. The energy division has increased by approximately $2.5 million in energy initiatives. That’s the reason for the increase. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the question. The Member is correct. The initiatives that are identified under the energy appropriation on this page reflect direction from the Minister’s Energy Coordinating Committee but by no means are the full suite of all the MECC’s guidance, those are distributed among a number of different departments. I’ll speak to the particular projects that are reflected in this appropriation proposed, but let me say that all of these contribute overall to our climate change objectives and our reduction of greenhouse gas emissions for the territory.

Emphasis in the initiatives that are identified here and, as you may note, the compensation and benefits is essentially the same, but the grants and contributions have changed and the specific project energy initiatives that are identified as per the Minister’s opening remarks in the House and committee earlier yesterday, one speaks to first of all a study, work with regard to dealing with natural gas conversion in the thermal zone. That is particularly focused on the overall initiative to look at LNG as a possible alternative to diesel fuel consumption in our communities, whether that’s in a community like Inuvik, which is a major consumer of diesel fuel but has been converted to LNG, as well as other communities in the thermal zone. So we have $150,000 proposed there.

There is a proposed investment of $1.4 million to the Whati transmission initiative once we continue the work. With alternatives to the diesel generation in that particular community, we’re looking toward providing hydro generation as the supply of electricity in that community.

We continue to support NT Energy with a $50,000 contribution to water monitoring, all of that leading to the potential for hydroelectric generation across the territory wherever we have that type of supply.

The other major initiative, of course, is one that we’re very pleased on identifying through the MECC Committee, which is another $200,000 towards a Great Bear mini-hydro project, and the Member for the Sahtu is familiar with that initiative, but we continue to work hard to try to identify a hydroelectric source of electricity in that region.

So that’s the example of the projects in that suite of contributions. We continue to support NT Energy, which is the unregulated component of NT Hydro, with a $700,000 contribution for their core resources. But as I said at the beginning, many other projects reflected in other departments – Housing, Public Works, ENR and others – reflect

continued effort towards greenhouse gas reduction in our territory consistent with our strategy and the Greenhouse Gas Strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So as with Whati, the Member is correct; we have made investments in the Whati project over the years. Those investments exceed over $1 million, but those are valid investments with regard to studies needed to determine the geotechnical conditions in the area. Also, route analysis and environmental conditions. Those studies continue to proceed. We are very hopeful, as we’ve indicated to committee previously, to receive a final report from the current work that began in 2013 looking at probably our best alternate route alignment and design for transmission line that would take into consideration future generation from the local supply, but in essence displacing current diesel, integrating it into

the grid as per long-term objectives of the Power System Plan, connecting as much of the grid as possible. So we continue to do that and we look forward, as I believe and as I know the Minister has committed to committee that we would provide that update when it’s complete. It’s very, very important information to share once it’s done.

With regard to NT Energy, we continue to work with NT Energy on its deliverables as it goes with the overall Power System Plan work that they’ve been doing for this past year, a very important strategy for the North, and I’m sure, through the Minister, we could provide additional information on the works that the team that is doing that in NT Energy is providing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is our intention, working with NT Energy, to work with the community closely on alternative proposals. As the Member is aware, many proposals have existed over the years. At this point, there is current discussion with regard to more smaller hydrokinetic type of installations associated with the Bear. Of course, any type of installation in such a pristine river requires due study with regard to its environmental and other impacts and this is the work that’s proposed. We have had good discussions with the community on this matter and anticipate, subject to appropriation of course, that we would get underway with this in the new year and look forward to the results that we could report back.