Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the most important recommendations to come out of the last Energy Charrette was the need for the creation of an NWT energy efficiency act. Some of us have pushed for this throughout our term but have been sloughed off by costly ministerial statements like, “I believe communities know what needs to be done.”
Getting this act in place needs to be a priority for this government. Given the dollars that go to energy costs and the effect energy production has on the
cost of living and environment, it’s unbelievable that we don’t have one already. Leaving this for the 18th Assembly is unacceptable.
Government has been quick to see the savings realized through our own use of alternative energy sources: pellet boilers, solar arrays and energy conservation initiatives. With a short five- or six-year payback, Diavik has shown that wind power is eminently feasible here.
Liezl van Wyk, Diavik rep speaking to the Energy Charrette regarding their wind power project, stated that building this sort of infrastructure should be a condition for any future project and asked, why didn’t the GNWT require this a long time ago? Indeed.
BC, Alberta, Ontario and other jurisdictions in Canada have energy efficiency acts and have for years. The opportunity to draw on their experience and our own considerable internal experience can easily be tapped and drawn together for timely legislation this term. Such an act can provide long overdue energy efficiency standards that must be met for buildings, equipment and operations.
Studies by Jaccard and Associates have indicated that savings enabled by energy efficiency legislation can amount to 14 percent on greenhouse gas emissions and that actions will more than pay for themselves. Such savings will directly lower the cost of living, decrease harmful environmental impacts and help build sustainable communities.
We do not need to reinvent the wheel in the Northwest Territories. We do need to set standards for a sustainable, long-term Energy Strategy. The government is ready; industry is signalling cooperation, and the people of the North are calling for action now.
Mr. Speaker, let’s acknowledge the obvious relevance of the charrette recommendation for such an act and get it done. With our new responsibility, this government must set clear targets for government, residential and commercial/industrial energy efficiency. We executed the Energy Charrette; we must start to work towards completing a sustainable, energy-efficient, economically and socially responsible NWT energy policy. Mahsi.