Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 30/05) - In the face of rising fuel costs the government of the Northwest Territories is pushing energy conservation as the key strategy.

"In the short term the most effective step we can take is to conserve," Brendan Bell, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, told the committee on accountability and oversight.

Most of the efforts are part of the $1.3 million energy conservation action plan that was enacted in October.

The plan puts more money into existing programs like the Energuide for houses evaluations.

It also provides funding for new programs and identifying new and emerging technologies.

The government is also looking at sources of renewable energy.

Hydroelectricity and wood were the main options.

"My preferred option and the one for the long term is hydro-electricity," said Premier Joe Handley.

Subsidies are not part of the government's immediate plans. Handley said it would be too expensive to provide subsidies to an artificial level or a southern rate when there is no price relief in sight. Work has been ongoing since October to ensure residents of the Northwest Territories are prepared for fuel prices, Handley said.

While MLAs welcomed the information from the presentation, many remained skeptical about effects the strategy will have for the public.

"The average citizen needs to feel and see some of these changes," Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins. said

Handley said the government is looking at both short term efforts and the big picture to decide how to turn things around.

"There is no magic answer that will help," Handley said.