Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to rise in regard to the NWT Power Corporation's response to the pandemic. My riding of Nunakput, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok, and Tuktoyaktuk, are the most coastal communities in our territory and have little or no industry, no economy. Our people in Nunakput were struggling to make ends meet before this pandemic hit, Mr. Speaker.

Now, things are going even harder. We are still in the early days, and we are still in the pandemic. We are emerging from our lockdown of this pandemic. We are faced with a potential second wave of COVID-19 this fall. At this point, we have no idea when we will put the crisis behind us. We have no idea when the global airline industry will recover. From the long-term impacts of our high cost of food in the communities, I don't know if we will be able to welcome tourists back into our territory. Even the businesses, our government has curtailed. It's the backbone of northern economy, Indigenous governments, organizations cancelling assemblies, music festivals for this up-coming summer, which brings into our communities little funds to make ends meet during the summer.

Mr. Speaker, this is the reality now, the reality that the GNWT has to do everything in its ability to support our people in the communities, all 33 communities. As I said in this House before, many times, the cost of power in the NWT, especially in the remote communities, in my riding are paying the highest rates across the territory. The biggest financial challenge is to people, single mothers, having to pay their bills, having to choose. I am happy with regard to COVID-19 hitting because now people can live a little bit and get the little bit extra, what is needed.

NTPC removed this and suspended limiters. I was happy that the Minister did that. I thank him for that, and I wish this would be an ongoing thing when we come out of this pandemic. I want my constituents to know that I reached out to the Minister responsible for NTPC and instructed to make exceptions to late power bills, to ensure that there are no disconnections and late fees until we put this crisis behind us. We are still in that pandemic, Mr. Speaker. NTPC is run by a board of directors of bureaucrats. Now, we should let them know, tell them, "Let's keep doing what we are doing in regards with limiters, to keep on doing the right thing."

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted