Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to clarify – and I thank the Member for his question – was it to replace the Louis Cardinal? Was that the question?

Yes.

Okay, thank you. Maybe I’ll get you to just get that on record and then I’ll come back, Mr. Chair.

Yes, it was to replace the Louis Cardinal with the ferry that’s in Fort Providence at the moment. Thank you.

We don’t have plans for the Merv Hardie once it comes out of the river at Fort Providence. With the Louis Cardinal we just put new engines into the Louis Cardinal three years ago. We’re working on plans to extend the ice roads in the Beaufort-Delta near the Member’s communities and really the big point is, and I have to say, the Merv Hardie does cost more to operate. So what we intend to do is mothball it. It will be there if we need it. We don’t have any intentions on selling it or disposing of it in any other way. We’re going to have it as a backup, and as I mentioned in response to Member Yakeleya, there could be a use for that ferry at some point in time here in the territory and we’re not going to rush to dispose it. It will be here and we’ll use it as needed. Thank you.

Thank you. I do realize that it does cost more to operate the Merv Hardie because it actually runs longer than the Louis Cardinal does. So I’m not sure if the Minister is aware of that. Two hours every day over the duration of the summer adds up. I strongly believe that that’s the reason that it costs more to operate. Also, that ferry is open a lot longer than the Louis Cardinal. I know we are getting close to the end of October and there is no ice on the river yet, on the Mackenzie. The main thing is to keep the cost of living down for the Mackenzie Delta, and I strongly believe that having the Merv Hardie there would do that. Thank you.

Again, I thank the Member for his concerns and I believe it’s the hourly operating costs are more on the Merv Hardie. I don’t have the specifics on exactly in comparison to the Louis Cardinal, but I’d be more than happy to get the department to put together a cost comparison on both vessels and get that to the Member, and we can have a discussion after the Member has a look at the numbers. Thank you.

Thank you. No further questions at this time.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Members, 9-7. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wonder if I can just get an explanation of the Johnny Berens’ generators. What’s that all about? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Ramsay.

Thanks. I’ll just get Mr. Neudorf to explain that. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ramsay. Mr. Neudorf.

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Bromley.

Thanks for that explanation. I imagine those would be fairly old. I wonder how frequently they’re replaced and I suspect there are a lot more efficient generators out there now. Do we have any information handy on the efficiency of the new generators compared to the old? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Bromley…(inaudible)…

Transportation, activity summary, marine, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $450,000. Agreed?

Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress. I would like to thank Mr. Neudorf for joining us here today and Minister Ramsay. If I can get the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort the witnesses out of the Chamber, thank you.