Shane Thompson

I greatly appreciate that. When I was down south, I ran into a couple of individuals, and they talked about these air ships, the new technology. Has the government started to look at that as potentially something that MTS can get into in the future? Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about ferry operation and the problems that were happening in Fort Simpson. I have to commend the Department of Infrastructure again and their staff from Fort Simpson. They have been able to get the ferry operating from 9:00 to 6:00, and I greatly appreciate that. However, with water levels, that is a big concern. Has the department done any analysis of possible solutions to alleviate this type of problem in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Roughly about $40,000 at the high end. Okay, thank you. When we talk about the petroleum revolving fund, when we talk about this, now we are saying that, using the Minister’s words and I apologize if I didn’t get them exactly right, they are going to eat the cost of the petroleum, the freight being back and forth. That is great that we are getting the petroleum and that into the communities, and I think that is great to hear.

My question, though, is: this revolving fund, how does that impact the cost of fuel next year for all communities? Because I am assuming the purchase is bulk, that is how...

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately today, I rise in this House to inform you about the passing of a respected elder from Fort Liard.

Mr. William Marie Bertrand was born to Marie Angel Timbre and Baptiste Bertrand in Maxhamish Lake on February 19, 1938. He passed away on July 9, 2018. The service was held in Fort Providence a week later.

William went to residential school in Yellowknife. Later, he went on to Fort Smith for his heavy equipment operator training.

William met the love of his life, Mary Jane Williams, in Fort Smith where she was working at a hospital on January 3, 1967. William and Mary Jane...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that. I got a little bit of clarification a little bit better there. When we talk about the rebates to the clients that have these vehicles that are not getting shipped in there, it is great that the department is going to give back the rebates, but will the department make a commitment to these same owners that they will charge them the same freight rate this year for next year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. When the Minister and department is going to be coming to committee to present, will we have the actual bottom line what money we have? When I’m hearing $22 in the bank and $875,000 here, I mean, it sounds like we have $22,875,000 minus liabilities and that. Now, I’m sitting here, trying to understand this. If we look at the liabilities, we look at the assets and depreciation of the equipment and that, our numbers actually go down, if I am understanding this correctly. Can the Minister or Mr. McCormick please clarify? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Can Mr. McCormick explain the bank balance? Is this a liability? Does this involve the equipment? Is that $22 million in cash? Is that what it is? Or is this assets and product? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. The Minister of Hope. Every time I ask him a question, we get this "hope" answer. "I hope something will happen." "I am hoping this." This is the Government of the Northwest Territories, not the Indigenous government, not DFN. This is the Government of the Northwest Territories' responsibility.

The question I asked the Minister was: will he give us the same information that he has given to these Indigenous government organizations so that we can go out there and get that information to them? I am not asking him to say "hope" that those other organizations are going to do it. I am...

Yes, he has worked with Indigenous governments, and he is organizing that. However, this is a regional government, and these cabin owners are community-based. I know that Acho Dene is getting consulting as well, but again, what about the other three communities out there: Wrigley, Nahanni Butte, and Sambaa K'e? Is it DFN's responsibility now to get that information out there?

This is a government decision, not DFN's thing. Will the Minister advise us, will they look at going to the smaller communities and getting this information out there?

I thank the Minister for that answer. It actually comes down to the million-dollar question: has the department looked at actually building a bridge across the Liard River? We are talking about Mackenzie Valley Highway. We are doing a bridge up at the Great Bear River. Has the department looked at building a bridge or a floating bridge, similar to what there is in BC, using the two islands in the river? Have they done a cost analysis of that?