Check against delivery.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide Members an update on the board governance structure and future opportunities for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, or NTPC.

The vision of NTPC is to enrich the lives of Northerners by providing power that supports living, working, and investing in the Northwest Territories. Strong, independent governance is an important part of delivering on that vision.

Mr. Speaker, this year marks an important step forward with the transition to a hybrid Board of Directors that includes seven independent members from across the Northwest Territories, alongside two senior representatives of the Government of the Northwest Territories.

This governance model balances local representation, diversity and expertise, with a whole-of-government perspective and is consistent with the priorities of this Legislative Assembly.

The Board is chaired by Judy Goucher of Hay River, who brings with her to the role, more than 15 years of experience as a senior utility executive in the NWT and ten years of experience in GNWT financial management, providing a balanced foundation for the governance responsibilities of a public utility.

The independent Members of the Board come from communities across the territory and bring a broad mix of Indigenous, governance, public-sector, regulatory, and technical experience, informed by first-hand knowledge of northern energy systems, infrastructure, and the impacts of climate change in the North. Together, these perspectives strengthen oversight and support informed, long-term decision-making.

In 2025, the GNWT issued a Direction Letter to the new public Board of Directors for NTPC and NT Hydro. This letter provides clear policy direction from the GNWT as the sole shareholder, outlining priorities and expectations to ensure strategic oversight and effective governance.

Mr. Speaker, the Board has completed an extensive onboarding process and is actively working with NTPC management preparing a response to the Letter of Direction issued by this government. This work reflects a clear focus on accountability, planning, and the responsibilities that come with governing a public utility on behalf of Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, energy is fundamental to daily life in the Northwest Territories and a key priority for this government. With aging infrastructure and the growing impacts of climate change, this area faces considerable challenges but also promising opportunities.

Those opportunities lie in modernizing how we plan, invest, and make decisions about energy infrastructure in the North, in ways that reflect northern realities and support long-term affordability, reliability, and resilience. Working together will be critical to achieving these goals.

Mr. Speaker, I met with the new Board members when they were in Yellowknife for their onboarding. The members expressed their appreciation for the appointments, acknowledged that NTPC has a critical role in the North’s future economic growth, and conveyed their commitment to work with Management to be responsive to our Letter of Direction.

This governance structure provides a solid foundation as NTPC plans for the future and the new hybrid Board is well positioned to provide effective oversight as NTPC continues its work to deliver reliable, affordable, and sustainable power for communities across the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.