SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife MLA's suggestion that residents would enjoy lower power bills if only Northland Utilities was eliminated from the equation got him branded a liar on the opening day of legislative assembly Wednesday.

Robert Hawkins: Called a liar for suggesting residents would save money on power bills if Northland Utilities was eliminated as a power distributor in the territory. Jane Groenewegen: Hay River MLA apologized but then attacked Hawkins for "derogatory" remarks toward "insatiably hungry companies."

Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins was in the midst of questioning Premier Bob McLeod about what would happen should the global utility subsidiary be sent packing and NWT Power Corporation (NTPC) be allowed to take over power distribution in Yellowknife.

Hawkins said customers would save approximately 10 cents per kilowatt hour if power distribution was left solely in the hands of NTPC. While a skeptical McLeod was questioning "mathematics" of Hawkins' theory, Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen was heckling him with words that were inaudible from the press gallery.

Hawkins subsequently stood on a point of order, saying Groenewegen had muttered that his statements were "all lies," which Groenewegen quickly retracted while admitting she was "prone to heckling more than (she) should."

The bad blood didn't end there, however, as Hawkins proceeded to interrogate Michael Miltenberger, the minister responsible for the power corp.

Hawkins was asking Miltenberger about the profits these "insatiably hungry companies" make by supplying power in the Northwest Territories when Groenewegen stood on a point of order of her own. She called Hawkins' characterization of Northland Utilities "derogatory," although Hawkins didn't mention the company by name during this round of questioning.

"A private company that has been in the Northwest Territories for over 70 years as a private company. I've heard (Hawkins) refer to them as a southern company. I've heard him refer to them as having an insatiable appetite for profit and they're profit-hungry," said Groenewegen.

"This company he's referring to is not represented by the minister and is not here to defend themselves against derogatory or unsubstantiated comments like that."

The Town of Hay River in December said that it would not be renewing its franchise agreement with Northland after 2016.

Legislative assembly speaker Jackie Jacobson said he would think Groenewegen's point of order over and report back next week.

Jacobson then cautioned MLAs about making offensive remarks in the legislative assembly.

Hawkins suggested Groenewegen had an ulterior motive for her staunch defence of Northland Utilities but did not elaborate inside the legislative assembly.

"Mrs. Groenewegen should come clean with her connection, if there is any that we need to get on the record, a reason why she is defending the company," said Hawkins. "I don't understand what may or may not be, but a few minutes ago I was accused of lying and now I'm being heckled on the side on my concerns, on my choice of adjectives when it comes to the cost of living."

Groenewegen raised her arms in apparent exasperation but did not respond.

Hawkins then returned to his questioning, asking Miltenberger whether the door was open for NTPC to be the power distributor for the North.

"The issue I'm really trying to drive at, Mr. Speaker, is are there other opportunities for other distributors, such as NTPC, that didn't require to make a profit on the distribution rather than cover the cost?" Hawkins asked.

"The reason I ask this question is because I've been talking to the department about this one; what analysis has been done if we eliminate outside distributors, therefore we don't necessarily need a (Public Utilities Board) and we roll the NWT Power Corp. into a department," said Hawkins. "Normally you would describe this as hypothetical, but this is work I know the department has been reviewing and evaluating."

Miltenberger said "due diligence" is being done on the issue but he could not offer any final position.

"Those are questions currently under review, not exactly the way the member has phrased them in terms of a formal department or getting rid of all distributors other than (NTPC)," said Miltenberger.

"We are doing due diligence on those questions. I'm not in a position at this point to answer specifically because we have not concluded the work."

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