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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

  • His favourite word was land.
Historical Information Louis Sebert is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 2019, as MLA for Thebacha

Lost his last election, in 2019, with 6% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 196-18(2): Plan To Address The High Cost Of Power Rates June 8th, 2016

Certainly, Mr. Speaker the Power Corporation is interested in keeping rates down. As I mentioned earlier, one of the projects that is a possibility, and this was mentioned in the House yesterday by the Premier, is the possibility of exporting power to Alberta and Saskatchewan. Those discussions are at a very preliminary level as they are governments, provincial, federal, and Aboriginal, involved. But I would expect, should we be able to move forward on that project, that we would hope to obtain significant funds from the federal government. It is a renewable resource, hydro. Provinces to the south of us, particularly Saskatchewan, have indicated that they wish to get off coal, and it does present an opportunity for us.

Question 196-18(2): Plan To Address The High Cost Of Power Rates June 8th, 2016

The Northwest Territories, and it is an acknowledged leader in biomass heating and ranks second in the country in solar capacity per person. As the House heard yesterday in the Premier's speech, we are going to be rolling out a new energy plan, we will be seeking the input of the public, Members of this House, interested parties, and we are anticipating in being able to table a new energy plan early in 2017.

Question 196-18(2): Plan To Address The High Cost Of Power Rates June 8th, 2016

Certainly, there have been increased in power rates over the last five or six years, and we are anticipating increases over the next three years. However, this increase in rates is driven by several factors. The cost of fuel is certainly one of the factors. Also, too, the amount of power that the corporation actually sells is not increasing, and so costs tend to be stable or increasing while the amount of power actually sold is decreasing. Therefore, unless we are able to find a major export market, it would seem to me that power rates may continue to increase.

Question 196-18(2): Plan To Address The High Cost Of Power Rates June 8th, 2016

Yes, Mr. Speaker. As this House will know, an application has gone in for an increase in power rates of 4.8, four, and four per cent over the next three years. The savings of a million dollars allowed us to keep the application that low. Had that million dollars not been saved, the application would have required a higher rate of return to cover the costs of the Board. I haven't calculated the exact amount, but it would have been considerably higher than the rates requested. Thank you.

Tabled Document 56-18(2): Report Of The Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission 2016 June 7th, 2016

I wish to table the following document entitled “Report of the Northwest Territories Judicial Remuneration Commission in 2016.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery June 7th, 2016

To recognize John Catholique, representing the Akaitcho Territory Government, and Vance Anderson, NWT Metis Nation.

Minister’s Statement 42-18(2): Update On The Northwest Territories Power Corporation June 7th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide Members with an update on recent changes made with respect to the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. On May 24, 2016, I appointed six deputy ministers to the board of the corporation. The reasons for taking this action have been documented in the media, but I would like to briefly reiterate these reasons and provide Members and the public with some information on next steps.

First, and most importantly, this change to the board of directors will save rate payers $1 million per year. In the face of continued cost pressures, power rates for consumers have also continued to rise. Four years of rate increases have been followed by an application from the corporation for further rate increases of 4.8 per cent this year followed by four per cent in 2017-18 and four per cent in 2018-19. Retaining the previous board would have meant even larger rate increases for NWT consumers and this was one way the government could cut costs. As well, it should be noted that the nature of the corporation and its relationship with the government is changing. It has been the recipient of substantial GNWT subsidies in recent years. The Auditor General has recognized these changes and directed that the corporation be reclassified from a government business enterprise to an other government organization. The corporation must now adhere to public sector accounting standards. Given these changes, I believe it is time that the GNWT consider the most appropriate future governance model for the corporation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the former board for their service and to emphasize that this change was in no way related to the performance of the board.

I would also like to underscore the corporation is a valuable and critical partner in our territory’s efforts to reduce the use of diesel and develop renewable and alternative forms of energy. When one of the Ikhil gas wells in Inuvik watered out, the corporation’s timely use of liquefied natural gas resulted in savings of $1.7 million since 2014. The development of the cutting edge Colville Lake solar-diesel-battery hybrid system opened last month was also led by the corporation. These are just two examples of the corporation’s leadership in developing alternative energy for the NWT. Mr. Speaker, the new board is in place and operating. As Minister, I intend to issue direction to the board to continue to look at ways to further mitigate rising electricity costs. They will review the responsibilities of the board as reflected in current legislation and guidelines; develop options regarding the future governance model for the Corporation; and develop an accountability framework that considers greater accountability to all Members of the Legislative Assembly.Mr. Speaker, this work will feed into the development of a new energy plan, one of the commitments in the GNWT mandate. This plan will present a long-term vision for our approach to energy in the Northwest Territories and the role of the corporation will be a critical piece of this vision. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 183-18(2): RCMP Service In Wrigley June 6th, 2016

As I said previously, I have very little control over the day-to-day operations of the RCMP. I can, however, undertake to bring these concerns that have been mentioned in the Member's questions to the RCMP. Again, all of the communities in the Northwest Territories do have police protection. Not all of the protection is provided by an on-site detachment. In a review of this matter and looking at the financials, we were given to understand that, approximately, the cost of establishing new detachments would be $11 million, an unacceptably high cost, so the concerns are legitimate. I will bring them to the RCMP. I imagine, to a large extent, they are already aware of these concerns, because they have been expressed previously, but I will repeat them to the RCMP.

Question 183-18(2): RCMP Service In Wrigley June 6th, 2016

The Member does bring up legitimate concerns. We're not in a position, of course, to have detachments in every single community. Most of the communities do have detachments; those that don't are subject to regular patrols by the RCMP. I can bring the concerns of the Member, again, to the RCMP. I expect, when they go to the communities, they do check on the items that were mentioned in the question, so I will bring these concerns to the RCMP. I think they would be largely aware of them in any case, but I can't really direct them to change their policy. That's really up to them.

Question 183-18(2): RCMP Service In Wrigley June 6th, 2016

Probably one of the points of having these patrols is to make them irregular so that those that perhaps would want to know when the police are coming won't know when the police are coming. I do understand, however, that there is a necessity of the police to go on regular patrols, which I understand they do. Whether those patrols are on a scheduled basis or not is really up to the RCMP. Although we do fund the RCMP to the tune of, I think, $45 million a year, 70 per cent of their budget, I do not have much control, or any control, and perhaps I shouldn't, over their day-to-day operations. I can, however, bring the Member's concern to the RCMP, Mr. Speaker.