Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole?

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that Bill 7 as amended is ready for third reading?

Thank you, committee. Bill 7: Chartered Professional Accountants Act is now ready for third reading as amended. Thank you to the Minister and his witnesses. Sergeant-at Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber. This concludes our consideration of Bill 7.

Committee, we have agreed to next consider Minister's Statement 103-18(3): Marine Transportation Services. I understand that the Minister has agreed to sit at the witness stand and answer any questions. Minister Schumann, do you have witnesses you wish to bring into the Chamber?

Yes, I do, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister, please have a seat at the witness table.

Each Member may speak 10 minutes to an item. I will allow committee to speak, ask questions of the Minister if they wish, and they can have a bit of a back and forth in that 10 minutes. At the end, I will give Minister Schumann the opportunity to respond if he wishes.

Do we have comments or questions regarding this Minister's Statement on Marine Transportation Services? Sorry, first, I will let the Minister introduce his witnesses.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my left, I have Vince McCormick, the Director of Financial Administration. On my right is deputy of Infrastructure, Paul Guy. On our far right is Brian Nagel, Director of Infrastructure and Business Solutions. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. First on the list, we have Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thanks to the Minister for bringing his witnesses. Mr. Chair, this affects, actually, three of my communities and one of them being Sachs Harbour, with a sealift of gasoline that wasn't delivered to the community. The Minister stated last week during the session that there would be no airlift of gasoline to Sachs Harbour. I'm just wondering if that's going to be added to or put in somewhere along the lines of the airlift to the other three remaining communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I stated in the House, we have checked what is in stock in Sachs Harbour, and there is enough there to meet the demand until next sailing season. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.

I am just wondering: what stage are they at right now with the airlift to the community of Paulatuk as far as petroleum products and dry goods? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the community of Paulatuk, our eighth plane-load just took off this afternoon to Paulatuk for commodity and goods. The fuel resupply will commence when we are done the dry goods. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just wondering: there are a lot of businesses that have lost out on tens of thousands of dollars in contracts and business. By the time we reach 2019, some businesses may not stay afloat. I'm just wondering. I'm looking at the newspaper right now, the Nunatsiaq News, and they are talking about looking at compensation that they mention. Mr. Vandenberg mentioned that there would be no compensation for any business or anybody who was losing out. Does the department still stand by their word of not compensating anyone for all their losses for equipment, vehicles, materials for 2018-2019? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As maybe not all Members realize, but, when you ship your goods on MTS, when you sign your bill of lading, there is no guarantee in delivery. That is right on there when you sign it. There is an option for customers to buy insurance, which we highly encourage for damaged goods and stuff.

As Mr. Vandenberg stated, we won't be compensating businesses, That is true. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Nakimayak.

That is actually too bad. I know it's a new department, and I don't know when the last time a barge was missed. I know it was quite a few years ago. Also, in Mr. Blake's region, I'm just wondering what other plans, you know? Like having Hay River as a marine trading centre and area, it's good for the southern NWT, but that doesn't necessarily work for the northern part of the territory. I am just wondering if the department realizes that they are two different places geographically and different types of needs for the communities and regions of the territory because the way it looks right now, it is a one size fits all and it fits the southern part of the territory and not so much the northern part of the territory. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister.