Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is correct, we are looking at the dredging in Hay River. So I do want to mention that in 2020, the Department of Infrastructure submitted a proposal for federal funding to partially dredge and restore the Hay River harbour but it was not approved. The request for funding over three years to undertake initial mechanical support, mechanical spot dredging only in the most heaviest silted areas of Hay River harbour, within the East Channel and at the harbour's mouth, as determined from our operations.

Mr. Speaker, the focus was on restoring navigability to facilitate safe passage of vessels including those of Canadian Coast Guard, the tugs, the barges of MTS, and commercial fishing vessels. So the request was not intended to cover the more extensive dredging that is required to restore the entire harbour to fully operating draft and safe navigability. So the extent of which can only be determined with regular bathymetric surveys.

Mr. Speaker, once the restoration is complete, an ongoing dredging program should be reestablished to be able to resolve long-term issue. This would also require base funding, long-term commitment from the federal government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.