Wally Schumann

Yes, our portion is coming out of the MTS Revolving Fund. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

A bridge could possibly be a priority across the Liard River, but not at this point. As all Members know, we are pushing the envelope here on infrastructure funding to try to complete the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I believe that is our priority right now. Based on our mandate, that is what we are working on.

There would be some challenges, though, with having a floating bridge, I think, because of the fluctuation of the water that we see, particularly on the Liard because it is tied to the BC mountains. We can certainly have a look at that sometime, but, right now, that is not a priority of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. First of all, we have to point out there are millions of litres of fuel that get shipped up there. This isn't one of Basset's B-train loads here we are talking about. We are talking millions of litres.

The wear and tear on the highway would be on the Dempster, and stuff would have to be considered, but right now, as we start moving commodities anywhere around this country, marine and rail is the cheapest way to do it. There's no getting around that at this point. There are also safety and environmental issues if you were trucking it. There would be more risks involved in...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I believe the briefing will be in public, and we can supply that at the same time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Yes, we have done some preliminary investigation regarding the potential alternate landing site that the Member is talking about. It could extend the ferry service up to a month, depending on the weather and the water levels. There are some challenges still with this option. I think we have talked about this in the House before.

The ferry crossing would be 11 kilometres along the Mackenzie Valley River and take an hour-and-a-half compared to the seven-minute crossing at the present site, where it's located right now, on the Liard River.

Of course, with that, if we are going to do 11-kilometre...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we can make sure we have someone from petroleum products to explain it to committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will make it very quick. First of all, on the Norman Wells, comment, I am sticking by that comment. That was a fuel delivery to a customer in Norman Wells. It wasn't our fuel; it was a different customer's fuel. It was from the same supplier that caused the issue in Hay River. I couldn't tell you the exact number of litres of fuel, but it was a significant amount that we had to transport back for that.

As for what it is going to cost other programs and services, it is not going to. I have already told this House, the revolving fund for petroleum is going to eat the...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I have to lay it out maybe a little simpler. We are giving the rebate back for what we are charging people to haul their vehicles in this year, and we are delivering them next year for free. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm having trouble with my microphone here, too, or my hearing piece.

First of all, I want to make a couple of comments on this, I guess, because I have stated in the House that Hay River is the primary logistical point for our operation. It does have the Synchro Lift there for lifting and maintaining and being able to operate our repairs on our vessels and our barges, which is very significant to this whole operation.

Hay River is a key point and it has the most northern rail link in Canada. That is where all the fuel comes from.

One of the things, I think, that has come...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When we come in front of committee next week, we are going to bring you the most up to date balance sheet that we have because that changes all the time with liabilities and invoicing and stuff. The other thing we have got to make quite clear here is: we are forecasting that we are going to break even this year, even with all the liabilities of flying all the freight in. Thank you, Mr. Chair.