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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - Concerns about proposed tax and power rate increases dominated the discussion at a recent constituency meeting in Fort Simpson.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche hosted the meeting on Sept. 18.

The possibility of rising tax rates was one of the first items on the table as talk turned to the territorial government's revenue options.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche jots down notes as residents speak during a constituency meeting held in Fort Simpson. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The government is looking at options for the 2009-10 fiscal year. At this point the government shouldn't be raising additional revenues by putting more taxes on residents, said Menicoche.

"I think it's the last thing we should be looking at," he said.

Menicoche said the government must have other ways of increasing efficiency and lowering the amount of revenue they require.

Rachinda Cli attended the meeting to warn against raising taxes and electricity costs.

"I think at lot of families are just on the border and are just making it right now," said Cli.

An increase in any of those areas could negatively effect a lot of families, she said.

The possibility of rising electricity costs also concerned the seven people at the meeting.

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) has submitted a phase two general rate application in which they've asked for rate changes, a shortfall rider and a stabilization fund rider.

The changes, if approved, would mean that residential customers using 700 kilowatt hours (kW-h) per month would see a monthly increase of 7.5 per cent or $12. Customers who use more than that amount would pay the full cost of the power.

The increases would vary by community.

In the Deh Cho Nahanni Butte would see the highest increase at 37 cents per kW-h compared to 18.12 cents in Fort Liard.

Menicoche said he favours deferring the increase and using the resulting time to evaluate the corporation's internal efficiencies and the operation and maintenance costs.

The increase is the government's fault because they saddled taxpayers with the power corporation, said Duncan Canvin.

The corporation could have invested in alternative energy sources in the area to remove its dependency on diesel fuel which is rising in price, Canvin said.

"They haven't done one thing that has one ounce of imagination, said Canvin, the mayor of Fort Simpson.

Martina Norwegian also criticized NTPC for not taking advantage of the Mackenzie River as a power source.

"In this day in age I don't want to hear excuses why we can't," Norwegian said.

Despite implementing energy saving measures at her house and using the same amount of electricity, Norwegian said she's been watching her bill rise steadily.

"I don't know what else to do," she said.

In addition to deferring the riders, Menicoche said hearings should be held in the communities like Nahanni Butte, which would be the hardest hit in the territory, to hear what residents have to say.

Menicoche said he'll also be raising the issue of Highway 7 during the legislative assembly's four week session that starts on Oct. 1.

During deliberations on the 2009-10 budget Menicoche said he'd heard the budget for Highway 7 will be decreased. After the problems the highway had this summer funding needs to be increased, he said.

In October, Menicoche plans to travel to the other communities in the Nahendeh to gather more constituents' concerns.