This is page numbers 1945 - 1988 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 going.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Kam Lake.

Caitlin Cleveland

Caitlin Cleveland Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. I will admit I have had many conversations about this with the Minister in recent weeks. We have had very good conversations about this, and I'm wondering if, in brief, the Minister would give us an idea of what she would like to see in such a policy. Thank you.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

To the Member, once the review is done with the local housing authorities, I would bring that information back, and that would determine what the policy would look like and the specific changes that are going to be required. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Got in just in time, Mr. Speaker. As per the act, the objects of the Power Corporation are to sell energy on a safe, economic, efficient, and reliable basis. If you go into the act, the definition of energy in sub (b) includes "heat that is supplied through a district heating system by hot water, air, or steam." I'm glad to hear that this is one of the objects of the Power Corporation. However, it is not something we actually do presently, so my question for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation is: is the Power Corporation willing to build and operate biomass district heating systems? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister of Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With no time on the clock, I guess we have lots of time here. The NTPC Act does include the ability for the corporation to sell heat energy through the district heating system as well as the ability for the corporation to become a water and sewer utility. NTPC's core mandate is to provide safe, economic, efficient, and reliable electricity services to the Northwest Territories. As the Member can appreciate, this is not an easy task to do in the northern NWT context. We want NTPC to focus on this task and not use its limited resources on other activities at this moment. Unlike the electricity system, which is a natural monopoly in areas such as the heating market where there is competition, it is best to let the private sector meet any market ban and let the market take any risks with these ventures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I recognize the Power Corporation has limited resources, and one of the reasons that I want them to expand into this area is to make some more money so that maybe they can afford their infrastructure. Presently, the Power Corporation does actually enter the heating market. For example, in Fort Smith, you can purchase electric heat off the Power Corporation at a rate that is actually pinned cheaper than diesel. It's cheaper for commercial buildings who have access to that to heat their buildings with electricity than it is diesel. Is the Power Corporation willing to expand its electric heating rates to all hydro communities?

Diane Archie

The GNWT is currently undertaking a study on how to increase electricity sales. The study is looking at whether or not a special electric heat rate would be feasible and appropriate in the North Slave hydro system. The North Slave often have to use diesel to meet peak demand. Being able to avoid using electric heating during peak periods will be crucial, and it's not clear if there is an electric heat rate that would be low enough to compete with the cost of heating with oil. This study will inform if the electric heat rate in other communities beyond Fort Smith and beyond Fort Resolution is something that should be considered for future advancement.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

I look forward to seeing that study, but I would have liked a yes as opposed to a study. Right now, the Power Corporation has a net metering cap on renewable energies where any community selling back solar to the grid eventually hits a cap, and many of our communities have reached that cap. They went and got 100 percent federal dollars, they built solar panels, and now they are not allowed to build any more because the Power Corporation won't let them. Is the Power Corporation willing to remove the net metering cap on renewables?

Diane Archie

Good question. I have heard that from all the MLAs. The 15-megawatt cap on net metering was a policy that was set by the GNWT to ensure that any single individual does not install too much solar generation. Too much self-generation is harmful to our small electricity grids and increases electricity rates. This is also the reason why we have the 20-percent community cap. Net metering is meant to allow people to generate enough power to cover their own yearly electricity by allowing extra power to be fed into the electricity grid to be able to get credit back whenever they need it later. It is not intended to allow people to feed large amounts of surplus power. The 15-kilowatt cap is designed as a compromise to allow as many people as possible to take advantage of net metering, without one person installing too much and limiting other people to be able to participate. The GNWT is currently studying options to modify the net metering program to address concerns associated with the reliability and impacts on the rates, while at the same time allowing people to participate and reduce GHG emissions. We expect this work to be completed in the next fiscal year. This will inform the future decisions on this matter.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What I heard there that there may be another study that will allow our Indigenous governments and our communities to actually build and control their own electricity infrastructure beyond 20 percent; maybe allow them to actually own some of that information in the future. It seems that the Power Corporation is caught in this "we can't allow more renewables because it will affect the entire ratepayer system, and we can't seem to find any solution at all, despite there being federal dollars." I think a little creativity is needed on the board, so my question for the Minister is: is there anyone presently on the board who has a specialization in energy?

Diane Archie

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation board consists of deputy ministers within the GNWT. I know the Members may not be happy about that. The department is looking at a governance review of the Power Corporation, and once we get that going, it will further determine what to do with the Power Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to Commissioner's address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, reports of standing and special committees. Item 15, tabling of documents. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

R.J. Simpson

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "2019-2020 Annual Report of Aurora College." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Minister of Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document: "Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly Under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act 2020." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Tabling of documents. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table correspondence regarding remote lodge licencing. The first is a letter from the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation dated February 5, 2021, and the second is from the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs dated February 10, 2021. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member. Tabling of documents. Member for Nunakput.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table two letters: a letter I received and a letter of support for the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour, dated January 26, and my response to the hamlet was February 2, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Tabling of documents. Item 16, notices of motion. Item 17, motions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Mr. Speaker, I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River North, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 11, 2021, it shall be adjourned until Friday, February 12, 2021, at 10:00 a.m.;

AND FURTHER, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Friday, February 12, 2021, it shall be adjourned until Tuesday February 23, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.;

AND FURTHER, that, at any time prior to February 23, 2021, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, or at a time later than the scheduled resumption of the House, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time.

Mr. Speaker, maybe we can look at making this less of a mouthful just for us to take a break. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. The motion is in order. To the motion.