Madam Chair, can I switch my witnesses?

Yes. Sergeant-at-arms, please escort the witness out and bring the new witness in.

Please introduce your witness for the record.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, still with me is my deputy minister Steve Loutitt, but added to my table here is my assistant deputy minister for energy and strategic initiatives Robert Jenkins.

So Member for Monfwi, did you want to repeat your question.

We know that when this access -- Whati transmission line goes through, we know that it's going to lower the cost of electricity in the community. So I know Gameti were expressing interest as well. They wanted to see if it is possible to extend the Whati transmission line on to Gameti and from there to the Snare Hydro. I did ask that question before. Is there any way that we can, you know, include Gameti, you know, to extend the Whati transmission line to Gameti and then, you know -- because they want to have -- they want to have the same benefit as Whati. So that was their interest. That's what they expressed. So I just wanted to ask about that if it is possible. But I know Tlicho government probably already talked to you guys about it so I'm just asking.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, so one of the projects that we are looking at in Gameti -- well, first of all, I think I heard a couple questions in there, but one of them was the Whati transmission line and some of the work going forward. You know, we are looking at estimation completion date, if everything goes well, in 2026-2027. So we are still in the early planning stages of the Whati transmission line, including consultation, engineering, environmental scoping. So that work is still underway. We have an agreement signed with the Tlicho government to be able to undertake most of this work. So that's the Member's first question. And I do want to just mention for the Gameti, we are looking at mini hydro. And if I can just have Mr. Jenkins speak a little bit more about the project there. Thanks.

Thank you. Mr. Jenkins.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Yeah, thank you. I did say it before, we all know the mine will be closing soon and there's going to be an influx of mine workers without jobs. So we did say that -- and I note Tlicho government or Gameti were expressing interest in that as well to have all-season road. And so -- because there's going to be a lot of workers with class 4, class 3, or heavy equipment operator. So they did ask about that. So I just want to ask the Minister if that plan is in place as well, you know, for future discussions and if there's any studies done on it and how much would it cost.

Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that's not in the plan right now to proceed with that work. Yes, you know, that's -- do you want to add something further? If I can, deputy minister.

Thank you. Deputy minister, Loutitt.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you for the information. Yes, I know -- well, the all-season road and the elders were saying that there is a route, an existing route, an old road from 20, 30 years ago. So they were saying that it's going to be a lot -- the planning, and it should be a lot easier. This is what they were saying. So it is possible. So I just wanted to ask if it's not part of the plan, can we put it -- make it part of the plan because with the high cost of living and the people are expressing frustration because with the fuel price going up and everything is flying in and diesel are being used for energy source. So I think they are -- it's hard -- everybody is experiencing financial hardship. It's not just in Tlicho communities but in all the small communities, especially within the fly-in communities so that is why I was expressing that if we can make it part of the plan, you know, because once the diamond mines close, not everybody's going to be working on the proposed project as you just mentioned. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, before I turn it over to my deputy minister to speak a little bit more about some of the alignment that's happened in the past, but I mean, you know, we are happy to have that discussion to be able to talk about it. Doesn't necessarily mean it's going to get done and put on our capital list but, I mean, we'd be happy to be able -- to again work with the Indigenous group, have that discussion, work with the MLA, and, you know, find a place to be able to at some point perhaps get it on the books. If I can, Madam Chair, get deputy minister Loutitt to speak a little bit more about some of the past on the project. Thanks.

Thank you. Deputy minister Loutitt.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Yes, thank you. Yes, I know that nothing can be done without consulting, you know, with any -- so you have to do a lot of -- there's lots involved, I am aware of that with planning to have this project, if it ever gets approved or, you know, if it ever gets on the agenda. So I am aware of that. And the deputy minister did mention North Slave region, you know. Here I keep saying it, we're not part of North Slave region. It would be nice, you know, just to identify the Tlicho region itself, then I would -- we would really know what is being, you know -- what are the projects that's going to be -- you know, it's going to be worked on in Tlicho region itself. Here 20 percent in North Slave region. So it would be nice, maybe Minister of Finance can change that later on that, you know, with the -- or with Infrastructure. But it's just that it would be nice to -- for all the departments to recognize Tlicho region. We are not part of North Slave region because this is a bit misleading, and it's mostly Yellowknife, you know. So I just wanted to say that to make note of that if -- for future planning or future projects or anything like that, I would like to see Tlicho region, not North Slave region, then I will really know what is being proposed or what is being planned for my region. Thank you.