Thank you, Minister. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I recognize that. I recognize we're in fiscal sustainability. And, you know, it's just -- it's unfortunate to hear that we're reducing funding to such a well loved and well subscribed program. I realize they operate arm's length from the government. They do rely quite heavily on the pieces the GNWT funnels their way. So more of a comment than a question, but, I guess, I just -- I would like to -- if the Minister would be so kind as to elaborate to what she sees is the value for our investment on Arctic energy. Thank you, Madam Chair.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just to clarify the point there that this was targeted for a very -- and you can see from the number -- a fairly specific reduction, and it was reflective of an operator surplus that was seen to exist, and it doesn't reflect on, you know, the fact that there is good work that is being done, but if there is an operating surplus in an organization that is a non-profit, it considers an opportunity in the course of this obviously bigger -- bigger concern around the ability of the government to continue to deliver all of the programs, including energy programs, of what we could do. So it was really related to an operating surplus and not an intention to take away. But, again, yes, I mean, the value it provides, well, I mean, it does, as I say, quite a large number of activities, everything from providing incentives directly to residents for various energy renewal systems or efficiency systems to education around Arctic renewable and GHG reductions and climate adaptation to providing energy efficiency analysis and so on and so forth. So we're certainly -- I'm certainly happy that it continues to exist, even without a surplus. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, I just wanted to I think perhaps repeat a question. Just starting with Arctic Energy Alliance, just it's being reduced by $104,000. That's the operating surplus? Is that the answer to that question? Okay. I'll just move on.

The low income program to address energy poverty, that one sounds interesting. I don't know much about that one. Can the Minister or staff describe what that program is for, what it does.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, let me turn that one to Amy Burt, please.

Ms. Burt.

Thank you, director of Infrastructure. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you for the answer. I was maybe hoping for a little bit more information on what that really means. What does the program do? What, does it provide people cash; does it provide people rebates to replace heating systems in their homes; what are we doing with the $200,000?

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It does have a program to support folks with wood stoves or wood stove replacements. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So that one, I mean, the issue I want to highlight is I've got a lot of constituents who are effectively, you know, on an older oil burning furnace paying exorbitant amounts of heating costs, aren't in a position where they can afford to switch to something more high efficiency or off of oil altogether to get out from under carbon tax payments, etcetera, etcetera, and just the general cost of oil. So I'm just wondering is this program geared towards that? It's only $200,000. I mean, personally, I'd love to see us providing a lot more support for people on this, just recognizing, you know, we're collecting a fair bit of money related to the carbon tax. The government hasn't entirely accounted for where all that money's going, and I think this is something that could be expanded. I think it would be a great program. I know it's something that a lot of people would be able to subscribe to if they were given assistance to upgrade their heating systems and make their homes a little more energy efficient. So I'd be -- I guess I'm really just encouraging the Minister on that one, but maybe if I could get a response on that.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we are right now spending what we're -- I mean, in terms of talking about energy savings and energy rebates, the Government of the Northwest Territories spends almost $8 million a year in terms of supporting territorial support, power supports. There's several million dollars a year that goes to seniors' home heating subsidies. There's $30 million a year that we've put to keep power rates low just recently, notwithstanding others. So I mean, I don't disagree that getting folks to a position where they're not as reliant on diesel is certainly one that, I think, we all share. But getting there, you know, in bits and pieces is hopefully not what we're going to have to do and hopefully we can do so on a much larger scale. I don't yet have actuals for this program, and it's one that -- to the extent that it's run through Arctic Energy Alliance, I would have to see where those actuals are at. Is this money getting out the door? Is it getting out to those that need it? Where is it going? Again, because it's administrated by a third party, and I have confidence that they're trying their best to get it out the door, but I don't have that information so I just can't speak to the degree or extent to which it's effective. I hope it is. I share the Member's concern. You know, if it's fully subscribed, then certainly then I welcome an opportunity to have a look at whether it's something that we do think has value. If it's not fully subscribed, then we want to look at, in the course of fiscal sustainability, if this is the right place to put public dollars. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Member for Frame Lake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's definitely something I want to dig into a little deeper in the future.

Moving to the low carbon economy leadership fund, or the LCELF I think we're calling it, I won't reiterate comments made by the other Members, but what I would like is an update from the Minister. I know there's kind of active negotiations and discussions going on with the feds. I'm wondering if there's any updates on that. I do want to encourage the Minister to really pursue this one. It's one that a lot of people are benefitting from in helping us kind of move in the direction of our climate goals. So I was hoping to get an update from the Minister on how we're doing securing that large amount of funding. Just, I see a huge reduction between our grants and is contributions and transfers between 2023-2024 and this year, and, you know, this was good money that was going to good places from the feds. So hope to hear some exciting updates from the Minister in the near future on this one. That is also a question. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we made the initial application process last summer when the call went out from the federal government. We understood that was accepted back in September. Now, you know, yeah, why -- or sorry, yeah, so this summer I guess last year now and then in the fall, and we continued to follow up with, frankly, the assumption and expectation that given that the, you know, focus on the need for lower carbon initiatives, the focus and need and understanding on climate change and the need to be at the forefront of taking steps to address climate change, to be, again, doing everything we can, whether it's GHG reductions or other forms of response, this, I agree, has some items here, whether it's Arctic Energy Alliance, whether it's greenhouse gas reductions, so on and so forth, that seems to align with what sound to be priorities coming out of the federal government, to jurisdictions such as ours, where we are at the forefront of climate change where we are paying huge amounts to run on diesel, in a situation where no one wants to run on diesel but we lack significant investment to make change. It was a surprise to me that here we sit in our budget sessions and still don't have a response on this. There has been communications at the ADM level, deputy level. I mentioned it directly myself to my colleague -- or counterpart. I understand that the deputy minister -- or assistant deputy minister is following up -- I want to say weekly, and I hope I'm not lighting too much of a fire under him, but at one point it was weekly because we had hoped, quite frankly, to not have to put our main estimates forward without this money in them. Here we are. I'm honestly surprised. It doesn't really make sense. I'll keep at it. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Member for Range Lake.

Frame Lake, thank you. It's okay, the other chair get that one mixed up too. So does the Speaker, for that matter. There's a lot of lakes in Yellowknife.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And I'll just say, you know, if the Minister needs some comforting words, it can just be that, you know, MLAs are putting a fire under her and so if she's feeling like she has to transfer that to the federal minister, I just want to kind of provide my encouragement also on that one. This is something that's important to our communities and our response to climate change. So thank you, Madam Chair. That's my comments on this page for now. Thank you.