Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT has committed to implement a carbon pricing system this year. It is great that we are making headway by taking accountability for our contribution to the greenhouse gases, and a carbon tax is necessary for reducing our carbon footprint, but at the same time we want to improve residents' quality of life and not make their lives harder.
In my riding, propane and diesel are the main fuel sources used for heating, though many also try to use wood and pellet stoves to reduce costs. Most electricity is produced through diesel. This means that, in my riding, residents face a carbon tax for both heating and electricity. With costs for propane and diesel already significantly higher in the North than the rest of Canada, and still increasing, a carbon tax will add to the residents' disadvantage.
Mr. Speaker, although there are proposals to return carbon tax revenue to residents, these will not return the full amount, meaning an increased financial obligation to residents, without alternative fuels to turn to. Not in my riding, at least.
The purpose of the carbon tax is to reduce carbon emissions. This means that revenue from the tax should decrease over time as we reduce emissions. My fear? Well, it is that, while Nahendeh will see costs go up, we won't see emissions go down because there has been little planning for alternative fuel sources.
Some NWT residents can use hydro. A government discussion paper released in July stated that Taltson Hydro Facility will be expanded. This means that, for Fort Smith, Hay River, Hay River Reserve, Enterprise, and Fort Resolution, a shift from carbon-based fuel to hydro is much easier than for Nahendeh.
Other communities can turn to solar. The introduction of solar diesel plants in Colville Lake has saved the community an estimation of 37,000 litres of diesel fuel, one fifth of the community's annual fuel usage. This is a great start, but now the work seems to have stalled. Colville Lake has seen significant benefits, yet the government won't look at expanding to other small communities until they study it further.
This does not get the smaller communities in my riding the help they need. The communities that rely on diesel need the government to think big, to show leadership, and take action, and not rest on their hydro, wind, and solar laurels. We must explore alternative energy sources. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.