Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, springtime at the Department of Transportation is that time of year when the department is swamped with telephone calls from the public asking when the ferries will resume service at our five ferry crossings in the Western Arctic. The tremendous interest every year with the ferry service goes to show how, in so many ways, our lives are affected by the transportation system and how, most of the time, we can take it for granted.

The ferries go back into service when the rivers are clear of ice. When exactly that will happen is no more predictable than next week's weather. Historically, our best guess is that the M V Merv Hardie will slide down the Fort Providence slipways into the Mackenzie River some time during the week of May 15th.

The M V Merv Hardie that returns to service this spring is not the same ship that came out of the water last January. Over the winter, work crews cut the ferry in half, inserted a new section of hull and welded it back together 20 feet longer than it was.

The rebuilt Merv Hardie meets Transport Canada's new stability regulations for roll-on/roll-off vessels. More importantly, with its longer deck and greater hull displacement, the Merv Hardie can carry four B-train trucks at a time across the Mackenzie River. Vehicle traffic at the Fort Providence crossing has grown steadily in recent years. Its increased carrying capacity means that the ferry will keep up with the traffic for several more years before we need to replace it with a larger ship.

I am proud to tell the Members that the whole $1.3 million job was done in the North, from start to finish...

--- Applause

... by northern companies and northern workers. The Northern Transportation Company Ltd. did the structural steel work in Hay River and Snowshoe Inn did the installation, fitting and reassembly work on site at Fort Providence.

The Merv Hardie is ready for launch as soon as the ice in the Mackenzie River decides to cooperate. However, before the telephones start ringing, I want to let everyone know that because of the work that has been done on it, the Merv Hardie has to pass two days of trials and testing before it can carry traffic. So once the ferry is in the river, we will have to wait two more days before the Fort Providence crossing can open. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause