Debates of June 23rd, 2016

This is page numbers 763-836 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was mr chair.

Topics

Oral Questions
Prayer
Speaker’s Ruling
Minister’s Statement 62-18(2): Education Hall Of Fame
Minister’s Statement 63-18(2): GNWT Occupational Health And Safety Program
Minister’s Statement 64-18(2): Celebration Of NWT Trapping On The Occasion Of The Fur Institute Of Canada’s Agm In Yellowknife
Minister’s Statement 65-18(2): Building Partnerships With Canada In The Delivery Of Airport And Highway Capital Projects
Northwest Territories Youth Ambassador Program
Northwest Territories Agricultural Strategy
Yellowknife’s Dene First Nation Skills Development Programs
Recognition Of Vivian Pellissey, Education Hall Of Fame Inductee, And Sahtu Dene And Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement Anniversary
Dechinta Centre For Research And Learning
Recognition Of Sarah Jerome, Education Hall Of Fame Inductee
GNWT Action Regarding Declining Bathurst Caribou Herd
Northern Food Production
Office Of The Public Guardian
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Office Of The Public Guardian
Northwest Territories Youth Ambassador Program
Collaborating With Yellowknife Dene First Nation On Skills 4 Success
Draft Agriculture Strategy
Northern Food Program
Core Funding For Dechinta Centre For Research And Learning
Significant Discovery Licences In Sahtu Region
Heating Issues Related To The Joe Greenland Centre
Habitat Protection For Bathurst Caribou Herd
Inuvik To Tuktoyaktuk Highway
Reform Of The Canada Pension Plan
Written Question 5-18(2): Maintenance Contracts On Highway No. 1
Tabled Document 78-18(2): Environment And Natural Resources Strategic Plan 2015-2020
Tabled Document 79-18(2): Follow-Up Letter To Oral Question 135-18(2) Impacts Of GNWT Job Losses
Tabled Document 81-18(2): Original Study - Hospitalization And Mortality Rates In Long-Term Care Facilities: Does For-Profit Status Matter?”
Tabled Document 82-18(2): Letter From Marshall & Company Barristers & Solicitors To Minister Of Justice Regarding M. M. De Weerdt Law Library
Tabled Document 83-18(2): Summary Of Members’ Absences For The Period February 18, 2016 To May 30, 2016
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of the Committee of the Whole
Orders of the Day

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Nothing further from Mr. O'Reilly. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Because I didn't see it anywhere else and we are about to close this section or this division on energy, I just wonder if the department could please provide us with the status of the Net Metering Program? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you. I will let Mr. Guy answer that as well.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Guy.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Guy

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a Net Metering Program in place that allows residents to install renewable systems on their home and net meter up to 5 kilowatts, I believe, is the limit. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

My apologies, Mr. Chair. I just didn't hear Mr. Guy on the last part of his comment there. Thank you. If he could repeat it, it would be appreciated. Thank you.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Guy.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Guy

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is a Net Metering Program in place that allows residents to install renewable technology in their homes and net meter. I believe the limit is 5 kilowatts. Thank you.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Five kilowatts. Again, in my ignorance, Mr. Chair, five kilowatts, is this a per hourly-type rate? What is this? For clarification, could I get an explanation? Thank you.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Mr. Guy.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Guy

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Five kilowatts would be the production output of the renewable technology, the solar panels for example, how much they could feed back into the system on a continuous basis. So 5 kilowatts per hour. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Cory Vanthuyne

Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North

Nothing further, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the explanation.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Ms. Green.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That brings up a question that was certainly a very live one here during the election campaign last year, and that is whether there would be a move and maybe it is not the right department, but a move to enable the municipalities to create a revolving fund for energy upgrades of the kind that have solar panels all over the roof. Is this the right department for that? Thank you.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Ms. Green. Mr. Guy.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Guy

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe that is the initiative through the Cities, Towns and Villages Act that would allow local improvement processes to be put in place where residents could borrow money through the city and have it recovered on the taxes. That piece of legislation falls in Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. Guy. Ms. Green.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Thank you for that clarification.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Nothing further from Ms. Green. Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Just on this subject of net metering. Although we have that policy in place for it, people that build up credits, they lose them at the end of the year. So it is not really a very good policy. And I don't think it goes far enough in terms of encouraging people to become more self-sufficient. Is the department looking at developing a better policy when it comes to net metering? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

The Chair

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister.