Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Mackenzie River has for generations resupplied the communities along this corridor and connecting communities in the Beaufort Sea area while supporting industry. The Mackenzie River is 4,240 kilometres in length, the longest in Canada, a lifeline for many communities; in most cases, the only means of bulk and personal resupply. With the reality of climate change and environmental impacts, the changing of navigational river channels by deposits presents many challenges to the logistics of resupply planning and, more importantly, delivery.

The Marine Transportation Service Division is as important to the resupply chain Highway 1 leading into Yellowknife. A resupply vessel that supports home and commercial building projects, grocery stores, family home appliances, community fuel inventory, just to name a few. As you can understand Mr. Speaker, the growth and sustainability of our remote communities are very dependent on this supply chain system.

The Sahtu region holds a significant amount of this waterway corridor, and holds two sets of rapids with potential portage delays. This previous winter road season was drastically shortened by the warmer weather. Our next resupply season is upon us, the Mackenzie River barging season.

Mr. Speaker, later I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Mahsi.