This is page numbers 2383 - 2438 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 work.

Topics

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Are there any plans to replace the old Weber units that were built in 1970 in communities? Like, take them off the books and be able to bring in new builds in regard to the community, for each community in my riding, and be able to bring in new units for the people, and maybe even more complexes?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

I'm quite eager to start working with home ownership throughout the Northwest Territories. The Weber units, we are working on a strategy within the Housing Corporation to have these units up for sale, to transfer them over to the public housing tenants who are acquiring the single-family dwelling units. We do have a rollout of units that will be coming together within the next few months. I don't have that list in front of me, as it hasn't been finalized. Just to try to speak about the Member's comments about his riding and looking at the condition of the homes in those communities, as well, these are shoreline communities, so I hear the Member on the damages that are quite significant in that riding. We are working as a Housing Corporation, and we are also working with the Indigenous groups in that riding, as well, to access the co-investment fund. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks, we will have an announcement to make.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I want to thank the Minister for that. This is a question in regards to getting ready for the summer retrofits and renovation season. I'm just wondering if we could get the third party to come into the communities to go and see every house in, say, Sach's Harbour and Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok to see, under the housing renovation, what the house needs and to see what is accessible to do for this coming year and be able to get it on the barge before winter season comes again. Is that possible, and using local hire to do that?

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

Condition rating is a priority, as well. We are looking at the public housing units. I know that we are reaching the 40-year mark for them, and yes, I will have my staff go into the Member's riding and to take a look at the conditions of the units that are there because I'm quite interested to see the amount of retrofits we need to get done for that riding and making sure that we do get material into that riding on time.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

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

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that again. I would like to see if the Minister is able to commit to a tour this summer and not only that, but making sure that local people are hired to do the jobs and not bring in outsiders because outsiders, that's the problem that we've been having in my riding. I need local hire and local contractors to get those contracts so we're providing jobs for the community and it's done locally on a timely and cost-effective manner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Paulie Chinna

Paulie Chinna Sahtu

I am a supporter, as well, for local hire, but some of the retrofits that are required, we do need the expertise to be flown in and to pass the inspection of the work that is potentially going to be done. I don't know the level of work that needs to be done, but I will keep the Member informed as we go forward and looking at possibilities of working with those specific communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I do notice that former Premiers' photos are in the past energy reports, so my questions are for the Premier even though her photo is not in one yet. The Premier must be aware of the need to get a grip on the escalating cost of living in the territory. Has the Premier provided direction to Cabinet to come up with innovative ways for energy savings to curb the cost of living? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll begin this line of questioning. I am just totally unhappy that my picture is not in the energy strategy. I have to say that, Mr. Speaker. Do I have a grasp on the cost of living? Mr. Speaker, I've said it more than enough times. I was a single parent for many years. I exactly know how hard it is to live in the Northwest Territories, so I will just stop at those questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Some of the largest energy users of fossil fuels are the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, and Marine Transportation Services. Can the Premier commit to directing the departments to submit energy plans to guide the long-term development of secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for transportation, heat, and electricity?

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

I do know that we have a long-term energy strategy. However, it is not done in my portfolio. It is the Minister of Infrastructure, so I'd like to defer the questions to the Minister of Infrastructure.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Honourable Premier. Minister of Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have under the 2030 Energy Strategy, the GNWT and its partners will invest $400 million over the life of this strategy. These are to ensure we have a reliable energy system as well as to address some of the cost of the energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We are on track to meet the strategic objectives of the energy strategy. We rolled out the new GNWT greenhouse grant program for governments, buildings, and industry to be able to support alternative energy and efficiency. We've also doubled some of the Arctic Energy Alliance funding to be able to efficiently triple the amount of reliable rebates available to residents, businesses, as well as communities. We're also setting the stage for our larger energy projects such as hydro power. With that, Mr. Speaker, I think that just goes to show that, within our current strategy, we are meeting some of our standards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Vision from 2020 was founded upon the goal of reducing imported fuels and greater utilization of local and renewable forms of energy. Can the Premier commit to developing a comprehensive biomass strategy that can be utilized by all departments, including NTPC?

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

I thought I heard Premier in there, but that's fine. We are always looking at ways to be able to reduce some of the costs, especially to the public, NTPC, housing, Housing Corporation. That's why we buy bulk, and we use MTS to be able to deliver some of our fuel services up and down the Mackenzie Valley Highway -- soon, we'll have a highway, it's just the Mackenzie Valley.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All my questions are all related to biomass strategy and not to liquid fuels. Electricity rates keep climbing every time the price of diesel goes up. I note the hydro dams and plants burn up a significant amount of diesel to operate. Can the Premier or Infrastructure Minister commit to having NTPC find innovative strategies to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions using biomass, and that, in turn, lowers the cost of electricity customers have to pay? Mahsi.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

The Government of the Northwest Territories has delivered a number of biomass projects to be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also operating costs. The use of wood pellets, boilers, has proven to be a reliable technology for the NWT and the residents. As well as businesses, local and territorial governments have all benefited from some of these successes. The use the biomass heating, like the Member mentioned, is considered for all GNWT facilities, and are currently being constructed. These are some of the projects that we are doing now, and like I said, we talked about the 2030 Energy Strategy and also the action plan. This is stuff we're working on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

Merci, Monsieur le President. My questions are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Last week, the Minister revealed that she is working on issuing a significant discovery licence for Husky Energy under the amended Petroleum Resources Act. This will be the first significant discovery licence issued under our improved regime. Can the Minister tell us whether she's going to consult Sahtu communities, Indigenous governments, and Regular MLAs before issuing the significant discovery licence? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Caroline Wawzonek

Caroline Wawzonek Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories does indeed consult with Indigenous governments, Indigenous organizations at the stage of when there's a call for bids. It is much earlier in the process than where this particular item is at. In this instance, what is relevant here is Section 30 of the new Petroleum Resources Act, which actually says that the Minister shall issue the significant discovery licence if certain conditions are met which, indeed, they are here for Husky. As such, I won't have any discretion in this particular instance. The reason that the consultation takes place earlier and, in this case, took place, was under the previous federal regime. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Kevin O'Reilly

Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake

That's great to hear. I hope this is not going to be another resource giveaway, but the Minister sort of prefaced my next question: Section 30.3 of the Petroleum Resources Act says that a significant discovery licence "may contain any other terms and conditions as may be agreed on by the Minister and the interest owner of the significant discovery licence." It's not clear whether that means the Minister can impose work requirements or annual fees that could even rise over time or whether Husky Energy has a veto. Can the Minister tell us whether it is her intention to pose any terms and conditions in this significant discovery licence that require exploration to be carried out, northern benefits, or annual fees?