Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, after each MTS sailing season, we conduct an end of season review. So we looked at a number of things, like the full impact of factors that's influencing the season, the associated costs can only be understood once all the invoices are received once we have completed our review. This analysis is typically completed prior to the end of December. Mr. Speaker, I can commit to providing information to the Member as well as the committee once I've had to review the analysis. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I look forward to receiving that information from the Minister.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister confirm what impact silt buildup in the Hay River harbour had on MTS's shipping season; were there delays? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a successful sailing season is dependent on many factors, including some that are beyond our control. The factors that influence its success are complex and interconnected. Adjusting sailing departures and schedules are a reality for shipping industry. Silt buildup will be number one factor that will be assessed during the end of our season review. Other factors we will need to include, but may not be limited to, high and low water, barges that washed out at the channel during the spring flooding, the deployment of buoys and weather. At the end of August, MTS barges became stranded in the channel, as the Member had pointed out when I was visiting Hay River during the flood season, which was leading into the Great Slave Lake and had to be towed back to the channel to the terminal, lightened in order to get them out of the harbour.

Mr. Speaker, we know that even a delay in a few days at the front end can result in longer delays back at the end as the barges move north. And encountering changing weather resulting in longer delays to get communities that are requiring a resupply. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pursuing the issue with the federal government. So Canada's responsible for the harbour, and I addressed this issue as recently as this week, both to the federal Ministers of Transportation and Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Senior officials from the department have also recently discussed this with senior officials from Transport Canada and brought this attention to the matter. I'm also working with MP McLeod in addressing the need for dredging of the Hay River harbour.

Mr. Speaker, our goal is to ensure that the federal government understands the serious nature of this issue, as we do too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now for the million dollar -- 10 million or $20 million question. Mr. Speaker, the harbour is critical to Hay River and has been critical to Hay River for a number of years. Will the Minister confirm if her department, absent any federal financial assistance, has identified internal funding to dredge the Hay River harbour? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The responsibility for dredging Hay River harbour lies within the federal government. However, given the importance of the Hay River harbour, and the urgency to restore it, we are willing to lead the work if ongoing federal funding is provided. We also continue to address this matter with its urgency with our federal partners and we look forward to looking for a solution, because I know this is very important to the community. Not only that, it's very important for some of the communities up the valley. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.