The grim saga of our floundering government and the NWT Power Corporation (NTPC) continues to worsen.

We are being driven to the poorhouse.

The definition of poor:

1. 鈥淲orse than is usual, expected or desirable; of a low or inferior standard or quality.鈥�

2. 鈥淟acking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.鈥�

It has come down to this: poor GNWT direction + poor NTPC management = poor 快盈v3ers, poor NWT Economy and poor NWT.

Sadly, here is what I see NTPC continuing to do:

-sticking with the status quo by relying on diesel and hydro;

-ignoring climate change and increasingly persistent long-term drought;

-refusing to fully use wind and other non-hydro renewables; using regressive policies and regulations to ensure limited adoption;

-supporting a board structure that is contrary to the intent of consensus government, one that concentrates decision-making in the hands of the secretary to cabinet and deputy ministers, many of whom have never worked or lived outside of Yellowknife and consequently think and act like headquarters bureaucrats.

Look where that great idea has gotten us. NTPC is even more poorly run than the government 鈥� reacting not planning; When all else fails, they blame the whole sorry mess of poor planning, poor project management, high costs, low water, on forces beyond their control. They take no ownership. Then they ask for a 24.8 per cent rate increase while not offering one solution to remediate this shameful situation. A rate increase which, according to the minister responsible, could have been as much a 45 per cent. 

In an attempt to pre-empt the rage and outrage of all of us at such massively expensive incompetence, $48 million, out of the GNWT's general revenue, is being put towards reducing the rate increase to 15 per cent to 鈥渉elp stabilize costs.鈥� However, let us be very clear on this issue, this all taxpayers' money 鈥� our money 鈥� that is being badly spent. Trying to convince us that the Taltson hydro expansion is some kind of energy silver bullet and the 鈥渦p to $25 million鈥� recently announced by the federal government is a big deal, at the same time as they ask for the 24.8 per cent rate increase (yes鈥� $48 million of which is tied to water levels being too low for hydro).

There is a significant contradiction here seems to me and the folks I talk to. It is also $48 million that now can鈥檛 go to the Mackenzie highway, housing, health or any other program area desperate for money.

So what does all this tell us? Throwing $48 million more of our money, in addition to the over $100 million already spent on low water, without a solution in sight, is not a plan. It is a cynical, four-year tactic to kick this political can down the road to the 21st Assembly. It confirms yet again that the status quo is not working, and that no one government can go it alone.

Relying on GNWT/NTPC bureaucrats and expensive outside consultants has demonstrably not worked. It shows that it is political hubris to keep ignoring the collective wisdom and feedback of 快盈v3ers and all the good suggestions that they have over the years.

It is this collective 快盈v3 wisdom where our salvation lies. How do we get the attention of the GNWT to listen to its citizens? All the MLAs will be home in their communities over Christmas, mixing, mingling and looking for feedback 鈥� give it them, sugarcoat nothing, be frank, clear and respectful.

As I write this column there are 1,039 days left in the term of this assembly. The GNWT is hoping that the $48 million of our money over four years will offset some of the economic impact of a 24.8 per cent rate increase and will get them to the end of their term relatively unscathed. Trying to buy that kind of political free pass with our money is not acceptable.

The mid-term review by the sitting assembly was instituted for this very reason 鈥� to formally hold the government to account. That mid-term period is less than a year away. There needs to be a lot of work done in that period. For those of us living outside of Yellowknife, so far neither the assembly, the government nor NTPC have been up to the job on this critical issue.

Michael Miltenberger is a former longtime MLA and cabinet minister residing in Fort Smith.