Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Whati transmission line, where we're at right now, we're advancing, planning, consulting, and engaging the activities, which involves the construction of the 60-kilometre transmission line to be able to replace the diesel electricity generation. I do want to note that we are actively working with the Tlicho government on this project and are meeting this week to be able to discuss the creation of a working group. That's where we're at, Mr. Speaker.

When I speak in this House, I represent my people, as their voice. It's the community of Whati today I'm speaking of, and they are tired of the talks under way, the consultation that the Minister alluded to. There needs to be an action-oriented process. This has been a long wait, well over 20 years since we talked about the mini-hydro initiative. Now, a transmission line. We're still talking today, 20 years versus 20 hours of a power outage. I, for one, would like for this government to act on what is in the best interest of the community, and that is the power hook-up. The next question I have is: how much would it cost to hook up Whati onto the Snare power grid and what portion of that would be the federal government's perspective?

We are currently hoping to finalize the routing for the project with the Tlicho Government, as it is on their lands, as the Member mentioned. It is an important aspect of this project, once the route is selected, to be able to undertake a technical and routing work to be able to cost and support the funding application to Canada. We're not there yet in terms of what the actual costs may be, other than we are planning, we're engaging, we are doing some of the working group stuff that needs to be done to be able to go forward with the project.

It's important that we highlight the proposals that are going forward with the GNWT and the federal government, talking about the technical work that the Minister alluded to. I would like to ask more specifically: regarding the hydro hook-up for Whati, what technical work needs to be completed for this government to finalize its application for the Investing in Canada infrastructure program?

I may have to get back to update the technical work regarding the route. It is at the early stage of where we're at with the planning, so it's hard for me to be able to speak technically about this issue without understanding a little bit more on what it would take.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. The Minister touched on the formation of a working group to deal more specifically with the Whati transmission line project. I would like to know whether that will be established during the life of the 19^th Assembly? We still have two and a half years. Obviously, I would like for this to be expedited because the community wants to prevent this from happening, the 20-plus-hour power outage, so could we expedite the process of establishing the working group and, during the life of this Assembly, a proposal be submitted to the federal government? Is that possible, Mr. Speaker? Masi.

The Member will be happy to know that we hope to have a funding application to Canada within the next 12 months. I do want to make note that, on April 17^th, I'll be meeting with the Tlicho Government in Behchoko, and we have five subject matters on the menu: the Whati access road off Highway No. 9, Highway No. 3 safety concerns, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, the Whati transmission line, and Gameti mini-hydro. Those are some of the subject matters that I will be speaking to the Tlicho Government about on April 17^th. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Thebacha.