That is good news. Good news for the residents of the Northwest Territories. If the water levels are not as high as anticipated by the Power Corporation, is there an immediate contingency plan that can be used, as opposed to just coming and asking for money? Is there another contingency plan that would address the issue if the water levels are down?

I understand in speaking with senior management that they have not in fact used up all the money from past years so there is some left over. Long-term, to deal with this issue, there will probably need to be a connection with the continental grid, which would be, of course, very expensive. But again, their research indicates that the water levels of the last two years are the lowest since 1950, and they are very optimistic that water levels will be higher this year and there will not be a problem in the next few years.

Beyond a contingency plan and beyond the fact that water levels look good now, there's still potential for water levels to be down again and us being faced with this type of cost. Are there any other alternatives that the Power Corporation is looking at should the water levels go down again? Alternatives to diesel, is what I'm referring to.

The Power Corporation is always looking at alternatives to diesel. We, of course, want to reduce our consumption of diesel energy and so others such as solar and wind are being looked as supplement, so that in the future if there are again low water levels, which is likely in the long term, that that issue can be dealt with not by using more diesel but by using solar, biomass, and other alternative energy sources.

Mahsi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just noticed that there was a letter that was sent from the Premier to the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning about Minister Sebert assuming the responsibility for the Office of the Regulator of Oil and Gas Operations. I'm just curious to know, is there a formal instrument and does it have to be published in the Northwest Territories Gazette? Beyond just this letter, is there any other instrument that's required? A decision of Cabinet? How is this designation actually done? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. The honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a decision of Cabinet. Thank you.

I understand, then, that it's a decision of Cabinet. Well, it's public now that it has been discussed in the House, but I presume then that the website is going to be updated to reflect this change. Is this something that appears in the Gazette? Is there any other sort of formal instrument that is required here?

There is a media release that is going out and if there is a requirement for gazetting, then it will be gazetted. There did not seem to be an urgency because there is very little oil and gas activity going on, so all of the required processes would be done in due course.

Mahsi. The time for oral questions has expired. However, I will allow two supplementaries. Mahsi. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to the Commissioner’s Opening Address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters:

Tabled Document 2-18(2), Interim Estimates, 2016-2017; Tabled Document 3-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2016-16; Tabled Document 4-18(2), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures, No. 3, 2015-2016, with the Member for Hay River North in the chair.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee wishes to report progress.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Mr. Chair, may I have the report of the Committee of the Whole?

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you. Do I have a seconder? Member for Mackenzie Delta. Motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

The House stands adjourned until Monday, February 22, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 11:55 a.m.