Thank you, Member for Hay River North. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Beth Covey in the gallery today. While Beth is not my constituent, I have actually known Beth since 1994 when we both attended the University of British Columbia together and she took geology and I took geological engineering. So welcome, Beth.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.

The last public business case estimated Taltson to cost $1.2 billion. We know construction inflation has gone up quite a bit so it's clearly not going to cost us $1.2 billion anymore. Can the Minister just tell us how much this project is going to cost? Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, the Taltson steering committee, comprised of leadership from the GNWT, Akaitcho First Nation, and Northwest Territories Metis Nation, have not yet selected a preferred transmission line route for this project. We are currently considering two options. Phase one of the project, one that travels west around the Great Slave Lake following the existing highway network and one that travels directly to Yellowknife via submarine cable. Cost estimates for both options have recently been updated and are being reviewed on a confidential basis by our Indigenous partners as well as Canada Infrastructure Bank. Mr. Speaker, we collect more information and proceed towards a final construction decision in the coming years. We will continue to refine our project cost estimates. This is a complex transformational project and providing a global project cost estimate at this time is very premature. We recognize it is important that this project is done cost effective so that we could keep public informed of the progress. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yeah, Mr. Speaker, that wasn't an answer. I just want to know whether -- like, are we at a $2 billion ballpark? A $3 billion? I mean, hydro projects have really gone over budget in almost every other jurisdiction in Canada. The 2014 business case is entirely built on the idea of selling to the diamond mines, our energy strategy and our emissions reductions is entirely built on replacing the diesel from the diamond mines. I don't believe what the Minister's talking about involves that but that's not public. So can I just confirm whether any of this work is about being a transmission line and selling the power to the diamond mines in the Slave Geological Province Corridor? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a general rule detailed business case information is not made public, and I just -- I'm saying that again. I've said that numerous times, it's not made public. You know, we are pleased, however -- talking about, you know, some of the mines that could buy the power. We're pleased to have received support and positive response from mining companies that are currently active here in the Northwest Territories and continue to monitor publicly-available information. We have assessed publicly-available information for ten mining companies with active interests here in the territories. We've had a number of conversations and there are significant interests in using green renewable energy from this Taltson project. Mr. Speaker, in fact, mining proponents have told us that access to green energy is critical to the successful advancement of their interests and its operations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I said that there would be ten mines coming on board. I think I said that we are speaking to some of the mining companies that could perhaps tie into the Taltson project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Yeah, well, I guess I didn't hear what mines those could potentially be. You know, Pine Point is the most obvious one if we're expanding Taltson. Now they're hopefully going to come online and buy power. Maybe Gold Terra, I don't know. Like, why am I just randomly naming mines that the Minister won't tell us?

I guess the last most important question is can the Minister explain what this is going to do to rates? Do we have any idea what rate we're going to sell this power for. Will it increase cost to ratepayers, or is the plan that we're going to sell so much and make a profit that it will lower it? I'll note most hydro projects have to initially increase rates to finance it and then, eventually, you know, maybe over 50 years, you get a pay back. But can the Minister tell us what effect this will have on ratepayers? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A key objective of the Taltson Hydro Expansion is to provide access to affordable and reliable energy sources for Northwest Territories residents and businesses. Ultimately, it is our vision that the project will benefit Northwest Territories in the ways that have positive impact on residents, businesses, and our future economic prosperity as a territory. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are also for the Minister of Infrastructure. Can the Minister please tell me why the air support for the fires near Hay River and the KFN are not utilizing the Fort Smith Airport for the efforts? It's my understanding that they are unable to land there and instead come to Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not aware of that operational detail however I can look into it and get back to the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, but I'm sure the Minister is aware of the fact that the repaving done by her department in the last while has resulted in a ridge in the runway that does not allow for the Electras to land. Could the Minister speak to that, please? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm not aware. Is the Member speaking about the Fort Smith Airport; I just need clarification. I don't feel like that question was clarified. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will check Hansard later but I'm pretty sure I said Fort Smith. Mr. Speaker, I'll just be blunt.

I know that the Fort Smith resurfacing of the pavement did not go properly and the airport is now not fully useable by airplanes supporting the fire efforts. Could the Minister please comment on whether or not she knows about this and if she doesn't, why she doesn't know about it? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Fort Smith runway did have some work done. You know, we had questions from the Member from Thebacha asking questions on the Fort Smith. The Fort Smith Airport is fine. You know, there are airplanes that can land there. I'm not very specific to which airplane the Member is speaking of. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Great Slave.

Mr. Speaker, I think it needs to be said this Minister is completely unaware of what is going on in her department. This is a resurfacing issue with the contractor that I've been made aware of by several people. So I'm unable to understand why the Minister would not be aware of this herself, and I have to question whether or not this is just deflection. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do want to let the Member know that there were minor deficiencies in the apron which has been addressed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.