Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am going to need him to repeat his question.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question was: the Minister makes reference, very confidently, to transportation through the trucking industry in terms of bringing fuel to Hay River, by railroad as well, and also, he seems to suggest that there has been some analysis, and whether there has been some studies in terms of cost comparisons as to an existing base in Hay River, as opposed to, perhaps, an option like Inuvik or Tuktoyaktuk as a base of operations for MTS. Would he share those studies and findings or analysis with the committee? Mahsi.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is only our second operational season. We haven't looked at those things yet. If the Members remember correctly, we bought this thing in December, and we had to have it up and running by the following May, which we did, and we made a profit the first year, with all of the challenges that we had around that, with one-time costs associated with bringing boats back down from the High Arctic to insurance and Lloyd's of London and inspections and staffing and crewing. There was a huge challenge around that, and the department pulled it off and got our first year done.

We are into our second season. This is our second season; I need to stress that. We are still trying to fully appreciate all of the assets that we have accumulated and the cleaning up of the facility and trying to manpower up and find the most cost-effective way to run this operation, but at this point, we have not sat down already. Just because we have had an unfortunate event this year with heavy sea ice that has come down and caused us not to be able to deliver to three communities, we are not going to scramble here to set up operation in Tuktoyaktuk. That is not the case.

We are always looking for effective ways to change things. We are taking some lessons learned, as I have said, from this, and we will continue to look at that. At this point, you know, I cannot see Tuktoyaktuk being on the radar to move our whole operation there. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My last question is, you know, I live in Fort Providence. The ice goes out about May 12^th or thereabouts, and then it follows, maybe, from there, north to Inuvik within a two-week period. The river is pretty well open within that period of time, but unfortunately, Great Slave Lake ice persists to keep the lake frozen, and MTS, their operations have to stand still during that time, while the river is flowing freely.

The point that I am making is that there have been changes in river breakups. We are seeing changes in terms of the sea ice flow up in the High Arctic, and my question is: how does MTS consider climate change in developing its operational plans, the examples I just made?

We are seeing changes. The Northwest Passage is becoming more passable for ocean liners, and things of that nature are happening. Surely the department through MTS has considered those operational factors.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have said earlier in my questioning, I said we were going to do a regional contingency plan on the Department of Infrastructure to help mitigate these extreme events, and that is where we would probably have a look at this. That is why we are having a look at the Beaufort region, and I have committed that we are going to do that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Nothing further from Mr. Nadli. Next, I have Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To your statement, I know you mentioned some high water in July, and I have seen it first-hand myself. I noticed a couple of buoys that were in places that they shouldn't be near Tsiigehtchic. How long did it take the department or the Coast Guard to realign those buoys along the Mackenzie River after they were moved out of place by the extremely high waters in the first part of July? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Without getting the exact timing, my understanding is it took the Coast Guard about ten days to reposition the buoys. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is good for us in Tsiigehtchic because we get all this driftwood in all the communities, we don't usually get that in the spring, but it always makes everybody wonder. As to early part of June, we get the breakup and high waters. People are always wondering why we don't see barges along the river until, like, towards the end of July. That question always comes up.

It seems like it is a little later than what it used to be, but I am sure, to rebuild all these barges, old stock, can we see major improvements once we get these new barges that are supposed to be on order, and how long will those barges take to be ready for shipping? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have talked a little bit about these double-hulled barges in my statement, about the funding that we secured with the federal government for the $19.5 million and had questions on our contribution.

The one nice thing about these, for the people that didn't get to attend the MTC opening in Hay River, we actually had a picture of the barges, and I think we actually have some of the drawings, and maybe I will commit to bringing them to our briefing as well so that Members can get a better understanding of these new designed barges. They are going to be able to haul all types of fuel on there. They are designed for that. They are double-hulled. There are four of them, and we will be able to put deck cargo on them.

In a case like this year, instead of having different trips going to the communities, and particularly the High Arctic, we will probably be able to service maybe, not only one, but maybe two communities with all their fuel and all their deck cargo in one trip. That is going to make a significant difference to the delivery times into the coastal communities. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am aware there are also other barging companies, like Cooper Barging, for example, or Bob's Welding. Those are two of the bigger outfits.

When we are a little busier than usual, like it seems we were this summer, do we make use of those other companies as well to service the smaller, closer communities, whether to Inuvik or near Fort Simpson? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Companies like these two that the Member is referring to, they service a different market and do different types of work. Cooper's Barging, for example, maybe a lot of people don't realize, but they don't haul fuel. Their barges are only set up for deck cargo.

Companies like these, too, that the Member is referring to, they service a different market and do different types of work. Cooper's Barging, for example, maybe a lot of people don't realize, but they don't haul fuel. Their barges are only set up for deck cargo. In rare, extreme cases they have hauled fuel on top, but they would be in a tanker. Generally, we don't interfere with each other's businesses. We both conduct our own businesses, and there is a market for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is all for now. Thanks.