Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Earning your driver's licence is a milestone for young people and a stepping stone to many skilled jobs, but highways, Mr. Speaker, are not the only way to get around. Strong and comprehensive transportation capacity liberates and empowers communities and individuals. For example:
● operating four-wheelers and snowmobiles helps us access the land and our traditional practices;
● barges bring essential supplies into our communities;
● ferries like the Louis Cardinal, which makes stops at three landing sites, connect communities to each other for supplies, and to opportunities for growth, and provide employment opportunities for local people.
We know that capital planning is a slow process. With that in mind, it's time to start planning for the necessary replacement of this vessel. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'll have questions for the Minister later today.