Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is that they had called the spill line and ENR officers went to the site. ENR, we are the lead regulatory agency that ensures responsible parties like the city maintains operations. They meet departmental standards for the protection of people, property, and management, so our officers were on the scene right away. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Are there any concerns arising from the regulatory side related to the spill? Has it been well contained by the city? Are there any lasting environmental hazards to my constituents, and in particular, property owners in Kam Lake?

My understanding is the city responded very well to the site. They cleaned it up right away, they had a vacuum truck on site, and transported the sewage that was spilled. Unfortunately, the excavator that they were using also went through the ice, but our department reports that there was no petroleum contamination on site and they continued to work with the city to ensure that the site is well taken care of.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his answer and for the action the department has taken. Tonight, there is a public town hall. Will personnel from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources be on hand to answer any questions members of the public might have as it relates to the spill?

I will give direction to the department to ensure that we have staff on hand to answer any questions that may come up during the meeting.

Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, throughout my term as an MLA for Nahendeh, we've heard about this great project at Colville Lake, with the solar there. I have some questions for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation in regards to the project in Colville Lake: who was involved to help fund this pilot project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories provided $1,150,000 for the hybrid solar, photovoltaic, diesel, and battery energy power plant project in Colville Lake. The federal government also contributed money in the amount of $150,000, so total government contributions amounted to $1.3 million. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his answer. In regards to this project, and it's a pilot project from my understanding from the different briefings I've received from the department and the Power Corporation, can the Minister tell us how long this pilot project is scheduled to last?

I can advise that monitoring will continue over the entire life of the project. Our experience with this type of project is that what we learn from the project can be used and applied to future projects under the energy strategy. Solar panels have a life of 25 years or more, but batteries have a lesser life of about 10 years. Battery technology, however, is improving, so that may enhance the project.

I thank the Minister for that answer. It's good to hear that the corporation is learning as they move on for other projects. Can the Minister please advise this House: what has the Power Corporation learned from this project and how we can move forward with it?

The goal of the project was to validate the integration of solar with significant storage capacity and test the limits of integrating intermittent renewable energy sources. NTPC has contracted with a third party to complete a performance review of the hybrid plant at Colville Lake, to be completed at the end of March 2018. Once the study is complete, the design basis for a standard energy storage system will be completed for consideration and other NTPC thermal power plants.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have to give some credit to the Power Corporation because, when the solar panels are working there, you can hear a pin drop in the community; it's that quiet. So it's very positive in that nature. When can we see the Power Corporation actually expand this project to other small communities, such as, Jean Marie or Kakisa? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Power Corporation supports the government's work on the 2030 Energy Strategy, and is looking forward to becoming a key partner in implementing a three-year action plan that is currently under development. We understand that emerging renewable energy projects require additional financial support, and the GNWT is committed to covering the incremental costs of these investments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have moved into the legislative drafting process on the MRA, Mineral Resources Act. What we heard during the public engagement along with consideration of other key elements, the resulting of the scoping exercise across jurisdictional review on policy research, that is what we take now. It is going to guide us to help us develop the Mineral Resource Act. Because that specifically may not have been in the "what we heard" report doesn't mean we haven't taken those things into consideration.

Our policy rationale for the proposed act will be provided to standing committee as part of our legislative process. When we get there, we can explain that. As we enter the next phase of the legislative process, we are talking about necessary steps to ensure the role of standing committee and Cabinet as legislators are not fettered. We need to continue moving this forward. We need to be able to carry out the drafting policy development moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thanks to the Minister for that response. He promised to give more information on how this is dealt with in other jurisdictions in the report. It is not there. On October 19th, when he did appear before the standing committee, he promised there would be targeted public engagement on this report. Yesterday, he repeated that promise in the House. Can the Minister explain what this targeted engagement is and who is going to be consulted and when?

The public engagement plan was provided to standing committee and stated that the second round of engagement could occur based on the expression of interest of community and feedback that we have. In fact, this is already happening. We have already met with the Chamber of Mines. We have received the request to meet with Alternatives North and expect to meet with them also moving forward. We will also continue to meet with the Intergovernmental Council going forward with the drafting process.

Thanks again to the Minister for that. Unfortunately, the "what we heard" report doesn't even invite any further comments or public engagement. Glad to hear it is happening, though. It might just be advertised a little bit better. In the House yesterday, the Minister said that a review on mining revenues would not likely take place during this Assembly. It is my view ITI cannot be left in charge of this review due to its conflict of interest as mining promoter and the obvious regulatory capture that has taken place. Many other jurisdictions like Alberta have conducted independent reviews of economic rent from non-renewable resources. Will the Minister commit to an independent, evidence-based review of economic rent from mining, including taxes and royalties, during the life of this Assembly?