Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have discussed this issue with the Member for Nahendeh in this House. I had answered some questions and I thought the Member was present.
When NTCL was a federal Crown corporation, the GNWT was committed to using their services. Following the sale of the company to the Inuvialuit Development Corporation and Nunasi Corporation the government of the day, in 1986, reaffirmed that NTCL would be the carrier of choice. About the same time, Cooper Barging Service applied for operating south of Fort Good Hope, but it excluded Hay River. That means both carriers can operate in the Fort Simpson, Jean Marie River, Wrigley, Fort Norman and Norman Wells areas and any point in between. The Cooper Barging Service also has the rights to service the Liard River.
The Member for Inuvik has raised this issue and also the mayor of Fort Simpson and the Member for Nahendeh. To address their concerns the department is in the process of preparing a decision paper for Cabinet's consideration to see if a process should be taken so all barge companies have the opportunity to carry GNWT cargo with a designation for the upper Mackenzie and whether we can ship materials to Inuvik and the other communities by truck. Thank you.