Question 10-16(2) Decision Of The Public Utilities Board  I think it’s important for the public to understand the role the Public Utilities Board plays. The board reviews all applications for rate increases by a regulated power body. If the Public Utilities Board were not there, there would be no opportunity for review and for input by

Question 10-16(2) Decision Of The Public Utilities Board  If there were savings to the average consumer, then I wouldn’t be asking these questions. There is a frustration out there that too many of these applications are rubber-stamped by the Public Utilities Board. I understand the need to operate at an arm’s length, like I said. T

Question 10-16(2) Decision Of The Public Utilities Board  The Public Utilities Board, once it has received an application for rate increases, holds a public hearing and also provides for intervener funding. The hearings play a large part in the rulings by the Public Utilities Board. My experience is that the Public Utilities Board doe

Question 10-16(2) Decision Of The Public Utilities Board  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that. The significant savings that he may be speaking about here…. There was a $2 million shortfall that the NWTPC asked for three and a half months to recover. The Public Utilities Board said, “We’ll give you 12 months.” The

Question 10-16(2) Decision Of The Public Utilities Board  Part of the review that is being undertaken…. My expectation is that we would come up with options which would entertain exactly what the Member is putting forward. And that would be one of the options that we would look at.

Additional Costs For Trucked Fuel Supplies In Inuvik  Mr. Speaker, yesterday I spoke on the rate increase in the NWTPC and the strain it was causing to the residents of Inuvik. I'd like to speak to another subject today that's also causing some strain to the residents of Inuvik. We had a meeting earlier this year, and we were info

Question 14-16(2) Additional Costs For Trucked Fuel Supplies In Inuvik  Mr. Speaker, I also failed to mention before that I feel for the local agent in Inuvik, who is the first point of contact for a lot of people. He has to bring this extra cost to the consumer even though it’s out of his hands, too. I felt I needed to mention that. I’d like to di

Question 14-16(2) Additional Costs For Trucked Fuel Supplies In Inuvik  I understand and I respect the fact that we try to stay out of the private market. However, we still have an obligation to the residents of Inuvik who are being faced with this extra cost. I’d like to ask the Premier if he would communicate with Esso and NTCL the need to reso

Condolences To Families Of Deceased Inuvik Residents  Since the dissolution of the 15th Legislative Assembly, the community of Inuvik has had a few residents pass on, and I wanted to use my Member’s statement today to mention them and to let them know that we share in their loss. We've lost Kendra Sittichinli, a bright young 18-ye

Question 3-16(2) Client Access To Housing Programs  I would like to pose my written question to the Minister of Housing. 1) What is the number of Inuvik clients approved for housing programs? 2) What is the client-by-client breakdown? 3) What is the amount of money received per client? and 4) What was the nature of

Question 37-16(2) Flint Energy Recruitment For Skilled Workers  Mr. Speaker, certainly one of our objectives is to increase the hiring of Northwest Territories employees in all sectors. We think that we can achieve the objective that the Members laid out without having to open up the socio-economic agreements. We will be working towards that

Question 38-16(2) Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Preparations  The government has been working very hard to be prepared for the pipeline. We realize there is significant lead time to make sure that we have people trained up and businesses ready to take advantage of the opportunities that will come with a pipeline. I should point out that t

Question 38-16(2) Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Preparations  In the work that we are doing, with most of the positions for the government that would be affected, those skills are still transferrable. I would think that with the economy the way it is, there would probably be little difficulty in finding alternative employment for those affe

Question 38-16(2) Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Preparations  Mr. Speaker, the timelines that have been laid out indicate that the JRP report would be completed within four months after the hearings were completed. If you adhere to that, then you’re looking at early spring of 2008. If there’s any delay, it would push it back into the summer

Question 38-16(2) Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Preparations  We’ve been in communication with a number of people, most recently with Mr. David Hudson, the ministerial envoy for Minister Prentice, who is the lead on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline for the federal government. We’ve also had discussions with Randy Broiles of Imperial Oil and