This is page numbers 2243 - 2298 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.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. Within our bigger strategy of the 2030 energy strategy and action plan, within there, we have targets, and within our targets, we are able to kind of match where we are at every couple of years, to be able to see if we are on target. I am just going to see if ADM Jenkins wants to elaborate a little bit more in terms of his views on whether or not we are doing any savings. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. ADM Jenkins.

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Jenkins

Thank you, Madam Chair. I think the one that we have right in front of us that we could provide this evening is some of the savings associated with some of the biomass energy initiatives that we have ongoing. In 2019-2020, there was a utility savings of $1.85 million, and that is based on the use of using 7,400 tonnes of wood pellets. In essence, we are displacing diesel, and these projects displaced almost 4 million litres of diesel. Ultimately, we are working towards reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, reduced over 10,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas in reductions. I think that is the one that we have at hand tonight that we could provide. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Jenkins. Member for Hay River South.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. The question I have now is for smaller communities. I am just wondering if the research is being done to see the savings in the smaller communities, as well? Because I know that we look at the Housing Corporation and we say they should sometimes upgrade their houses, make them airtight, and all this. That causes mould problems. It causes a whole bunch of things which we pay for down the road, and then there are really no cost savings. I just want to make sure that what we're doing here isn't creating more problems that will cost us in the end, anyway. If the Minister can comment. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll take that as a comment.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Any further questions, Member for Hay River South?

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. With respect to the $12.38 million, the government has changed over some of their energy requirements to biomass. How much of that cost, or does any of it, come out of this $12.38 million? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. The short answer is no, but I will get ADM Brennan to talk a little bit more about why it's a no. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Mr. Brennan.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Brennan

Thank you, Madam Chair. The money that we save by putting it in biomass boilers basically just frees up money in the budget for other GNWT initiatives. This money here is funding that the department provides to various agencies or applicants for taking on their own initiatives. No, there are no savings in this $12.38 million. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Mr. Brennan. Member for Hay River South.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. Basically, this $12.38 million goes towards projects that are accessed probably mainly by residents and businesses, private businesses? Is that correct? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. Minister.

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. If you look along the list of contributions, it varies. You look at one example of the community access program, where it's proposal-based, and we put requests for proposals out twice a year, we get applicants, and we go through the department to be able to deliver that type of funding. You look at the Arctic Energy Alliance, where we provide direct funding to the Arctic Energy Alliance Coalition, and they determine that. It varies. Looking down the line, I want to say it's quite a mix of both providing either just contributions or perhaps just transferring some money or a grant. I'm not sure if the Member is wanting to go into all 20 of them or whatever and determine what are grants, contributions, and transfers. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Minister. Member.

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Rocky Simpson

Rocky Simpson Hay River South

Thank you, Madam Chair. No, that's fine. I can look at it, and if I have further questions, I can ask the Minister at a later date. Thank you.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 2nd, 2021

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Steve Norn

Steve Norn Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Madam Chair. I'll try to break this down to something more regional, and then I'll probably speak to something broader in terms of globally. I'll start by looking at page 244 just as a whole. I circled a few items that were sunsetted, the Arctic Research Foundation, the Tulita Solar Project. Understandably, that was sunsetted for the Tuktoyaktuk highway study, the Northern Transportation Adaptation Initiative. Then looking at this, it just seems like, in terms of research and development outside of Yellowknife, it just kind of all stopped. My first question to the Minister is: I don't want to sound anti-Yellowknife here, but I want to see how many of all these line items on page 244 are based in Yellowknife? What percentage of that? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you, Member. Minister.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don't know if I have that level of detail, on whether or not. I'm assuming that, to pick on Arctic Energy Alliance, most of the regions have an Arctic Energy Alliance office that does their own work. I'm looking to ADM Brennan to see if he wants to take a look at this, to be able to determine it. I'm pretty sure the majority of the list on the contributions are either administered by a department in Yellowknife or perhaps maybe some of them are delivered at a community level. I'll just see if the ADM wants to try to answer that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Lesa Semmler

Thank you. ADM Brennan.