I have a second return, Mr. Speaker, asked by Mr. Ng on November 30, with respect to sand and silt problems in the Coppermine River.
This is in response to questions from Mr. Ng, Member for Kitikmeot on November 30, with regard to a possible increase in Northern Transportation Company Limited's sea-lift rates to Coppermine. Senior officials at NTCL have assured the Department of Transportation that they have no intention to increase barge rates to Kitikmeot, and western Arctic communities, including Coppermine. NTCL also advised that, although there are draft restriction problems in the approaches to the sea-lift landing site, barges to Coppermine continue to be fully loaded.
The Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for ensuring safe conditions for commercial operators delivering cargo to western Arctic coast communities. In fact, the Coast Guard also owns and maintains the public wharf and landing in Coppermine. The Department of Transportation and the Canadian Coast Guard have been aware of the sand and silt problem in the Coppermine river delta for several years. Community suggestions, in 1990, to relocate the sea-lift landing to a new site located about seven kilometres west of Coppermine, have been evaluated.
Following consultations with the main sea-lift operator and the community stakeholders, department and Coast Guard officials concluded that the existing sea-lift site offered the best protection for NTCL's current operations. It is anticipated that some dredging may be required in the future to improve access for barges delivering cargo to the community landing.
As I mentioned, NTCL has no intention, I repeat, no intention of increasing barge costs to Coppermine, as a result of the sand and silt problem. The department and NTCL will continue to lobby the Coast Guard for dredging of problem areas in Coppermine, to ensure that sea-lift services to the community will not be disrupted.