Hon. Nick G. Sibbeston:

Honourable senators, this is Canada. It is endearing and good to hear Senator Watt speak one of the Aboriginal languages of our country. I also speak a language spoken in the North, a Dene language. We are not advanced to the point where I can use it in the Senate chamber, but I recognize that this has been done by my colleague, and it is nice to hear.

My question for the Leader of the Government in the Senate concerns hydroelectric power. The oil fiasco that we see in the Gulf of Mexico, the increasing environmental consciousness about our oil sands development in northern Alberta, and the dangers of environmental catastrophe from offshore drilling for oil make hydroelectric development and other clean sources of power much more attractive.

In the North, we have many rivers that could be used for producing electricity. One such project is the Taltson River hydro project in the southern area of the North. The project is presently undergoing an environmental review process.

In the Throne Speech, the federal government said it would move to clean sources of electricity, but it has not provided any support thus far. A promise has been made by the federal government. I would ask the federal government to act on its promise, particularly with this project in the Northwest Territories.

I ask the Leader of the Government in the Senate if she would confer with her colleagues, the Minister of Indian Affairs and the Minister of the Environment, to see if they can assist this hydro project in the North. There is a review process that is being undertaken at present, but there is also a need for a financial kick-start.

Could the Leader of the Government in the Senate do that for the people in the North?

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