Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to start off by supplying some background to this issue to the members of the Legislative Assembly. The government, the Canadian Coastguard and Sealift, went into Grise Fiord on August 30, 1996 and delivered all 88.15 tons of freight. Organizations served, include GNWT, Grise Fiord Inuit Cooperation, building materials, Hamlet Housing Association, NWT Power Corporation, RCMP and the school. There were also a number of private individuals who received freight on the Canadian Coastguard. The Grise Fiord Inuit Coop, the Housing Association, and the Hamlet decided not to ship all their goods through the government sealift this summer. Instead they chose to arrange the shipment through a private shipper who was unable to reach the community due to ice conditions.
Myself, as well as the Minister of Public Works and Services, committed that GNWT staff would be made available to provide administrative support, if affected organizations required assistance in making alternative arrangements for delivery. The GNWT would consider on a case by case basis, funding support, where there is evidence that residents would suffer unduly, the GNWT will not provide support to shipment of goods that are not considered essential for the community. Funding support will be considered only after alternative delivery of goods have been arranged and contract insurance claims have been investigated.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT is prepared to consider, on a case by case basis, submissions for assistance where there was financial hardship incurred in the delivery of goods, essential to the community. This part is very important, all submissions for assistance should include an itemized cargo list, cost of alternate delivery, the results of efforts to recover money through shippers, or insurance policies and evidence of hardship. To date, Mr. Speaker, we have received one submission for financial assistance from Grise Fiord. The submission that was directed to MACA by the senior administrative officer in Grise Fiord and concerns assistance with air freight costs and that is being reviewed as we speak. Thank you.