Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Roy Erasmus is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly December 1999, as MLA for Yellowknife North

Lost his last election, in 2015, with 21% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 6-13(8): Natural Gas Availability To Northerners September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister had indicated that if it is economically feasible, he could do this. I think that considering the size of the market in this area, it may

never be economically feasible unless the gas find is right on our door step. I think that we have to go beyond looking at economics and doing whatever is possible to ensure that the residents benefit from our own resources. I would ask the Minister if they would go beyond looking at what is economically feasible when they are looking at the possibility of hooking us up to this natural resource? Thank you.

Question 6-13(8): Natural Gas Availability To Northerners September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and a continuation of the questions I had asked earlier in regard to a gas pipeline to Yellowknife. I just wanted to indicate that the honourable Member responsible for Rae-Edzo has indicated that a pipeline could also service his community which would raise the numbers up by ten percent that would be serviced. Mr. Speaker, I know that the market would not be a tremendous market which probably would not be economical for the company that would bring this gas to this market. However, what I am wondering is, are we in any position to make it a condition of other pipelines that they actually do make natural gas available to this market over here? I am saying that, not because it would be economical or profitable to whoever does that, but because it would be good for the residents of the Northwest Territories to actually benefit from our own resources and also to lower the emissions that are contributing to the ozone layers being depleted above us as we speak. Thank you.

Question 3-13(8): Plans For Natural Gas Pipelines September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Should someone apply to build a pipeline to bring those resources south or perhaps even for the gas that is going to be taken out of the Liard area? Is it possible for us to make it a condition of extracting that resource that a pipeline could be built say over to Yellowknife so that we can cut the costs of fuel in our largest community and decrease the cost of doing business here? Is it possible to do that?

Question 3-13(8): Plans For Natural Gas Pipelines September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Are there currently plans or applications to build further pipelines up to the Beaufort or from the Beaufort through Mackenzie Valley to reach the markets that the Minister had indicated earlier which are primarily the large markets in the U.S.? Are there applications or plans to build a pipeline to reach those markets? Thank you.

Question 3-13(8): Plans For Natural Gas Pipelines September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has indicated that resources in the Sahtu and other areas would be brought to market as well. Is there opportunity for those

communities in those areas, the Sahtu and those areas along the pipeline route? Would some of those communities be able to benefit from cheaper fuel or does this fuel have to be refined first before it is useable in the North?

Question 3-13(8): Plans For Natural Gas Pipelines September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development in relation to natural gas conversion. As I indicated in my statement I was pleased to hear the Minister speak about the Natural Gas Conversion Program in Inuvik because I had been wondering about the possibility of gas conversion in other communities as well. I know that Hay River received natural gas some time ago and that natural gas is a cleaner burning fuel than oil. What I would like to know from the Minister, could he inform the House as to what the current plans for pipelines for natural gas in the Mackenzie Valley? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Vi Beck, a member of Yellowknife North constituency and the newly appointed chairperson of NWT Status of Women. I would also like to recognize Bob Brooks, who is a councillor on the council and a long term Northerner. Thank you.

--Applause

Member's Statement 5-13(8): Benefits From Oil And Gas Development September 6th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was glad today to hear the Minister of RWED speak about the Inuvik Natural Gas Conversion Program because that is what I wanted to speak about today, natural gas conversion. Mr. Speaker, for some time we have heard about oil companies doing exploration, finding oil and gas, wanting to build pipelines to the Beaufort, further pipelines going south. Why are they doing this? Well, it is all for money. You find oil and gas, you deliver it to your customer, you make money. What do we in the Northwest Territories get out of our resources? Well, we do not get the money, what the oil companies do not get, the federal government gets in royalties. What about jobs? Well, the last time they built a pipeline I worked on it and the only people that were working there from the North, were in the kitchen or cleaning the rooms. What about cheap fuel you say? Well, we still have the highest fuel prices in Canada. Imperial Oil and whoever has pumped out billions of dollars worth of oil and gas and we still have the highest fuel bills in Canada. Mr. Speaker, I think it is time that things have changed. If people want our oil and gas, then we should benefit too. It should be a condition for any new pipelines that they hook up our communities and we get cheaper fuel. That will make it cheaper for the cost of living, it will also make it attractive for new businesses.

The Minister spoke of cleaner, burning fuel and it is true, natural gas is a cleaner, burning fuel. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions when you transfer or convert to that. Obviously with Yellowknife being the largest community, it is the largest contributor to greenhouse emissions. If we hooked up Yellowknife to a natural gas pipeline that would be the largest savings or reduction in emissions we could make.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will ask the Minister responsible questions in this area. Thank you.

--Applause

Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole July 30th, 1999

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although the Speaker did not find a point of order in what I had said, if the Member to whom I was referring to was insulted or took it the wrong way, I am sorry and I probably should have used different terminology. I would like to reiterate again that phrase can be taken out of my statement from yesterday. Thank you.

--Applause

Motion 44-13(7): Termination Of Planning For New Yellowknife Correctional Centre July 30th, 1999

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Could the Minister indicate where does the public come in, in this process? When does the public consultation occur to see whether the general public agrees that these two facilities should be either situated so closely together that they can use the same facilities or to be linked?