Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, I raised my concerns on the GNWT managing the board of the Power Corporation. Today, I am raising concerns on the NTPC and how it treats its customers in the communities.

The Power Corporation has a 60-page document available on the website on terms and conditions of service to customers. The policy of the document gives NTPC the authority to disconnect service to the customer who does not pay their power bill within 28 days after the billing date. It also says NTPC can refuse to reconnect a customer until arrears are paid in full, late payment charges are paid up, and a security deposit is provided for a reconnection fee. The NTPC policy provides the corporation with its sole discretion to limit the electricity to customers as an alternative to disconnection.

Mr. Speaker, in the winter months, this is unacceptable. This is done with a technology called a current-limiting device. I heard this from constituents as a subject that, with this technology, someone in Hay River could just flip the switch and your power is cut off or you are given 10 minutes at a time. At 50 below, Mr. Speaker, that is unacceptable. The customer in Ulukhaktok and Tuktoyaktuk and Sachs Harbour, then without power, is flicked back on for 10 minutes. You could imagine that, when you are trying to run a household and you have little children occupied by the TV or trying to make dinner, flick goes off the power, no warning. Then it comes back on 10 minutes later, when the "Wizard of Oz" in Hay River grants the 10-minute window of power to finish cooking your meal or flick the TV back on and get to feed the family in the dark, probably. Now, 50 below outside, blizzard going on, no worries about that because every pipe is freezing up in your house, unacceptable.

The use of technology given by the mighty wizard may feel benevolent, but nothing kind in it. I have said I am hopeful that the government will know more and show more compassion to the people that it serves. It should absolutely be prohibited in terminating or interrupting power during the winter months. Life is hard enough in our small communities. Lack of heat, it's life threatening, especially in our smaller communities.

Since NTPC is run by a bunch of deputy ministers, it seems to me the Minister has the power, no pun intended, to direct them to change the policies, bring back the end of the use of the current-limiting device, and allow people to pay their bills in full, but they are stuck with expensive bills, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted