Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the issue we're hearing a lot about lately; that is the government's current and future plans for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and the future of power generation and distribution in our territory. The Minister's statement to the House the other day was appreciated. Clear communication from Ministers is always welcomed by the Members and, of course, residents. However, Mr. Speaker, some of the claims in the Minister's statement are in dispute, specifically the claim that different rate zones don't subsidize each other. So I'm concerned that while the Minister said he intended to clarify things, in fact a lot remains unclear.
Mr. Speaker, Northland Utilities, which distributes power in Yellowknife and other communities in the territory, is part of ATCO Group, an international company with assets, resources and expertise around the world. Northlands has been part of our power distribution system for many years and is a long-standing partner with Denendeh Investments Incorporated. According to a recent news article, Northlands says it seems the Minister is "ill-prepared," that his claims about rate zones and cost subsidization are not correct, and that conclusion is supported directly by NTPC's own documents.
Mr. Speaker, power and electricity is a critical and crucial part of our existence in the remote North. I'm concerned that in an area where we need openness and engagement with the public, as well as creativity and collaboration with strong partners, the government seems to want to keep both the residents and private enterprise in the dark.
I'm concerned about the little things: the dissolution of the public representative board of NTPC without input from Members or the public; NTPC choosing to compete for distribution of power in a market-based community; a reluctance to communicate with an innovative company that ought to be one of its most important private sector partners. I'm concerned that Northerners still don't have a straight answer about the rate structure we pay for power. So while I thank the Minister for his statement earlier this session, many questions remain, and residents deserve answers. I will have questions for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.