Thank you, Madam Chair. I know in the community energy systems that we’ve looked at, we’ve had a couple of feasibility projects done in communities such as Lutselk’e and Whati, perhaps others, I think maybe Deline, where things are technically feasible but they’re very costly to do. We are in a point, as we’ve heard from the Minister, where fossil fuel prices are down right now. This was highlighted by the Diavik expert on wind. You see this with successful businesses, when prices drop and we know it’s going to be so likely for a period of time, maybe a year or two or three, who knows, they recognize it’s a real opportunity. I know this department has realized this for building up their fuel sources for communities and so on, so they are moving on this. What are we doing to recognize this opportunity in terms of our community energy systems that have been very expensive under the sort of prices we’ve had in the past for fossil fuels, which would be used in the building of those? Is the department realizing this situation is an opportunity to perhaps bring some of these projects forward in a more affordable way, given this window of opportunity that $50 oil has provided us? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Deputy Minister Guy.

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Bromley.

I appreciate that. I think it’s a real opportunity for projects such as Lutselk’e and Whati who would provide both the power and the heating requirements for the community if it became affordable under the reduced fossil fuel prices we are enjoying currently.

Just on the Yellowknife liquefied natural gas plan feasibility study, this seems a bit bizarre to me, but again, I would ask the Minister perhaps include his

earlier commitment to examine what the greenhouse gas emissions are for that liquid natural gas as part of that feasibility study. It would be a natural addition to that to make sure we are achieving all of our government roles. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We agreed to that, that we would look at the greenhouse gas emissions outlook for natural gas. We would look at all of the alternative energy systems, including biomass as well.

The one other I had was I was out with Premier McLeod when we erected the wind monitoring pole or tower out at Giant Mine. That’s been two or three years ago now. I suspect it’s been three years ago. Do we know what the findings have been there and do we have the wind resources for wind generation in the capital city? Thank you.

That is one of the things that, as a division, starting on April 1st , we will be

following up on very soon into the creation of that division.

Getting ahead of myself, I guess. That’s all I had. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Energy, grants, contributions and transfers, total grants and contributions, $4.488 million.

Energy, active positions, information item. Any questions?

Page 435, Technology Service Centre, operations expenditure summary, $1.535 million. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just had one question here. I know there’s so much expertise in this division, and I know the Minister is aware that we’re putting a Mackenzie Valley fibre optic line that’s meant to enhance the access to the Internet and opportunities for education and health and so on services. I wonder if I can get the perspective of this department.

First of all, has the department looked at that project? Are they providing advice on that project?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will have the director, Laurie Gault, respond to the Member.

Thank you, Minister Beaulieu. Ms. Gault.

Thank you, Ms. Gault. Mr. Bromley.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Just on that, and I appreciate that information, we want to be maximizing the benefits to the individuals in our communities who would be accessing this – I know the Minister supports that – for their own education, health and certainly economic development opportunities. As currently planned, are we using the best way of getting this service to each home in the communities that will be serviced by the fibre optic line? I understand that that is typically getting a fibre optic line right to the homes, but I don’t have the technical expertise to carry it beyond that. Has that been the advice and would that be the advice of the department?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’d like to have the director, Laurie Gault, respond to that, and perhaps if the Minister of Finance could add to the response, then that would be good as well.