This is page numbers 3165 - 3220 of the Hansard for the 19th 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 indigenous.

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Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Public Utilities Board work with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Northland Utilities to consider and study the implementation of a customer crisis fund modelled after BC's Hydro's Customer Crisis Fund to provide grant payments to residential customers experiencing a temporary financial crisis and who have fallen into arrears. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion? Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

To the mover.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Madam Chair. So I think committee received a lot of concerns that in order to get rid of power limiters, that was a tool that the utilities did not have to collect, and then further arrears would then be passed on to ratepayers. And in many ways, this recommendation that everybody preemptively get an extra charge on their bill for a customer crisis fund just to create some transparency to if you have arrears, ratepayers are going to pay for them anyway so why don't we provide some guidance and a clear way, path forward, that if someone lost their job or is in a very -- a crisis state they could apply to get a grant. And I think this is the cleanest way to do it, to make sure we know exactly who is falling into arrears and when we can help them as opposed to the current state which is some people have massive arrears and deficits on their power bill which ultimately are being passed on to ratepayers.

So I do support this recommendation. I expect it also may get some pushback when people see a little crisis fund on all of their bills, but I think preemptively, this is the best way to solve the problem. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I support this recommendation as well. And I just want to highlight the recommendation calls for the Public Utilities Board to work with the two utilities here. You know, I don't know exactly what the Public Utilities Board does, but as I understand it, the Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board or Cabinet could issuing binding policy direction to set up this crisis fund. And I think that's something that I'd want my colleagues across the way to think about. And of course, you're going to respond to this if it passes, and -- but you have the ability to issue that binding policy direction.

The concept of this is really not that much different than 911, you know, in that people do pay an extra bit on your phone bills to support 911. And this would help people that need help.

So the other example I would use is, at least in Yellowknife, we pay a little surcharge on our water bills so that if there's a break between the foundation of your home and the main line in the middle of the street, it gets covered. There's a deductible amount but it's a similar kind of concept.

So this is not breaking new ground by any measure, even here in the Northwest Territories. And also, again, I want to urge my Cabinet colleagues to consider issuing binding policy direction on this when it passes. Thanks, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. To the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and Northland Utilities with oversight, if necessary enforcement from the Public Utilities Board, improve communications with customers so that they are clearer, more comprehensive, more proactive, and more client-centered, especially with respect to:

  • eligibility for the income assistance program and how policy changes or new benefit programs like the Canada Recovery Benefit may impact customer eligibility;
  • The terms and conditions of service documents regarding details on the types and minimum timeframes of notices that NTPC may send to customers;
  • The type and operation of power limiters, and, customer payment options.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Johnson.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Madam Chair, I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this report within 120 days. Thank you, Madam Chair.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

The motion is in order. To the motion?

Some Hon. Members

Question.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Question has been called. All those in favor? All those opposed? Abstentions? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. Do you agree that you have concluded consideration of Committee Report 17-19(2) Report on the Review of Bill 23, An Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act.

Some Hon. Members

Agreed

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, committee. We have concluded consideration of Committee Report 17-19(2), Report on the Review of Bill 23, an Act to Amend the Public Utilities Act. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Thanks, Madam Chair. I move that the Chair rise and report progress. Thank you.

The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Sorry. My brain. There's a motion on the floor to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion is carried. I will now rise and report progress.

---Carried.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

May I please have the report of Committee of the Whole. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 3220

Lesa Semmler

Lesa Semmler Inuvik Twin Lakes

Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Tabled Documents 438, 439, and 466; Bills 31, 32, and 33; Committee Reports 17-19(2), and would like to report progress with nine motions adopted, and Committee Report 17-19(2) is concluded, and that Bills 31, 32, and 33 are ready for third reading, and that consideration of Tabled Documents 438, 439, 466 are concluded and that the House concur on those estimates and and that appropriation bills to be based thereon to be introduced without delay.

And Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Page 3220

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Do we have a seconder? Member for Inuvik Boot Lake. All those in favor? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

----Carried

Third reading of bills. Minister responsible for Justice.