Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Okay, I just want to go to the line item there, hydro infrastructure -- or no, I guess it's community hydro, two community hydro projects to generate electricity. What are the two communities that those are going in? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, some of the community hydro -- the update on the feasibility study was completed in June of 2022 for a proposed mini hydro project to serve Gameti confirming there appears to be sufficient water available to meet some of the community's power needs. So the community of Gameti has applied for REACHE funding for phase 2 work, which is the technical and environmental. So funding has not been confirmed. Consultations with the Gameti and Tlicho government are required to be able to determine if the project moves forward. So we are -- the planned work under this project for 2023-2024, which is in this budget, is the technical studies and planning. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Members, we're going to take a short recess.

---SHORT RECESS

Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want some clarity, and in dollars, the hydro -- Taltson hydro expansion planning process and where it's at. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the Taltson hydro expansion, our current status, technical work is underway. We have $20 million set aside by Canada to advance the project. With the regulatory submissions, so these are rare and far, but they're about 100 percent funded. The scoping of major engineering contract to develop the remaining feasibility work for the project. So you look in the budget right now, some of the planned activities for 2023-2024 covers activities that are related to advancing the project to a point where it's ready for construction. This includes the engineering activities, environmental regulatory activities, engagement, commercial, and some partnership discussions. Madam Chair, I do want to note that we do have a Cabinet meeting -- bilateral meeting in Fort Simpson next month, I believe. So I'm sure we'd be -- this topic will be brought up as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So in terms of the overhauls, the project is in the construction phase. We did have, like any other project, some COVID-19 challenges that have delayed the completion date to 2023-2024. So it is deferred by a year, and some of the manufacturing of the turbine and generator was delayed because of the lockdown that happened in Spain and Italy. So some items were stored in Montreal. So delays are now scheduled for the 2023 winter road, which pushes the construction to start 2023.

In terms of the Snare -- no, I don't think -- I think the Member just asked about the Taltson. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As you know, I'm a great supporter of green energy, and especially of the expansion of the Taltson, and it's in the area of the center of Fort Smith and our Thebacha riding. And I guess I'm -- you know, I've always been a strong supporter right from time that I've come here as a new Member in this Assembly, and I still continue to support this project tremendously. I also want to make sure that we look to the future and have a full board of people from across the territories. And I know there's lots of excuses being made for keeping deputy ministers but it's -- you know, if you're going to be truly an entity on your own and away from government, that has to happen and I wonder when that's going to happen. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I will take that as a comment. I know it was a subject that was brought up on the floor a couple weeks ago in terms of where we're at with our NTPC government model and the review. So I will take that, and we have Cabinet here that will be making decisions as well on what we do as a government to look at the NTPC board. Thanks.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.

One of the concerns, Madam Chair, within the Fort Smith and the area that's affected with the green energy proposal is that a lot of the homes in the community and businesses are not able to hook up to the power grid as a form of green energy. So is that going to be part of the upgrades. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, developing the Taltson hydro electric system would connect ten of our communities to -- and 70 percent of the NWT population to one grid, also stabilize some of the costs of energy here in the territories, set a clean stage of economic growth, also improve energy security, reduce impacts on the energy system. So I think, if I can, Mr. Jenkins to elaborate a little further. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.

Thank you. Member for Thebacha.