This is page numbers 325-362 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 community.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration in 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. So presumably this will be corrected in future main estimates and business plans and so on? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the legislation it states the Minister responsible for the PUB will bring forward board appointments. I guess that's why we left it at that. Also, I said earlier the Government House Leader had a function, because the Government House Leader brings forward legislation as well. So that was the rationale for having a solid line to the Ministers responsible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions? Mr. O'Reilly.

Consideration in 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. I do hope that they correct the diagram in future documents. But it's my understanding that the Public Utilities Board has the ability to regulate net metering. This is where householders and businesses would have the ability to put energy back into the grid and receive some remuneration for that. The problem with the current system is that you can build up credits, but they expire as of April 1steach year. So there seems to be a problem in…you know, there's even one fellow in Inuvik who might be able to put more energy back into the system than he can ever use. So we need to change the way that net metering is done. Providing some direction to the Public Utilities Board or even putting this into legislation might be the way to do that. So when does the Minister expect that that sort of direction is going to be - or better policy or direction on net metering is going to change so that we can encourage more renewable energy development in the Northwest Territories? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Public Utilities Board applied the Cabinet-approved principles to a February 2016 decision regarding Northland Utilities 2014-2015 Phase 2 General Rate Application. The PUB is developing a clear publicly-accessible set of guidelines on net metering. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. O'Reilly?

Consideration in 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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. When can we expect that those guidelines would be available for public comment? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll write to the Chairperson and ask for that information. Thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions, Mr. O'Reilly?

Consideration in 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

Great, thanks. Would the Minister copy us on that correspondence and ensure that we get a copy of the response from the Public Utilities Board as well? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'll commit to doing that. Thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Any further questions? Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Committee, any further questions on operations, expenditure summary, Executive, $1,393,000? Committee agree? We have concluded. Cabinet support, operations expenditure summary, $1,393,000.

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

Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Committee, we are on page 123, Executive, Cabinet support, active positions, information item. Any questions, committee? Thank you, Ms. Green.

Consideration in 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. Mr. Chair, I wonder if I could have some detail about the grant to the NWT Literacy Council which happened two fiscal years ago and was then discontinued? Thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Ms. Green. Minister McLeod.

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

Bob McLeod

Bob McLeod Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That was a special grant for a feast. I think it was some special anniversary that the Literacy Council hosted. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Ms. Green, any further questions?

Consideration in 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

No, thank you.

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

The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Next we have Mr. O'Reilly.