Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, dredging. Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about the importance of dredging the Hay River Harbour. Subsequently, I went home on the weekend and yesterday I witnessed a grounded coast guard vessel again outside the mouth of the Hay River being towed off a sandbar by MTS vessels.
Mr. Speaker, the statement made was followed up with questions to the Minister of Infrastructure on what it is her department is doing to ensure the Hay River Harbour is dredged prior to next season. After reviewing the answers received from that line of questioning, I can confidently conclude that her department, this government, and the federal government do not understand why dredging is significant to the community of Hay River and the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, we are assuming the obstacle for dredging is who is responsible when really we are talking about who is willing to pay. It always comes down to money. If this government wants federal support and access to funds, then we must do our homework and present a solid business case for dredging. After reviewing Hansard and other government documents over the weekend, the efforts of this and past infrastructure Ministers has been deficient. We cannot continue to go hat-in-hand to the federal government asking for assistance with no justification, and that is why we continually get the door slammed in our face.
Mr. Speaker, the 1995 federal standing committee on transport stated, I quote: Ports where there may be justification for continuing federal presence and support include remote sites, particularly in the Arctic, with support and marine resupply operations that are critical to the survival of remote and isolated communities, some of which are associated with constitutional obligations.
A later federal report on the standing committee on fisheries and oceans states, and I quote: Safe access to harbours depends on adequate water depth at all times. And that's why we get stuck because we don't have adequate water depth.
And further on states that annual dredging is part of the maintenance and repair obligations of the small craft harbour program as dredging is often considered essential to harbour operation. It is usually the priority.
From those reports, you can see there's a path for federal support for dredging in the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I talk dredging for the Hay River Harbour, it is not only for the community of Hay River but it is for the benefit of the whole of the Northwest Territories. It is essential that we have a well maintained and navigable harbour, not only for the safety and navigation of vessels but tied to the many issues we discuss in this House that include community resupply, food security, cost of living, housing, climate change, resource development, financial costs, search and rescue, flooding, maintaining the northern transportation corridor, Indigenous rights, Arctic sovereignty, truth and reconciliation, and more.
Mr. Speaker, we need this government, in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous governments, to develop a business case for dredging the Hay River Harbour and Channel and to do the same for those points along the MacKenzie River and Arctic harbours that require similar dredging supports. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later. Thank you.