Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I talked in my Member’s statement today about a concern about diesel fuel for transportation and the concern that shortage has caused. My question could apply to multiple Ministers, but I think maybe in this particular case I may ask the Premier for his perspective on the situation.
In this situation here we have a possibility of a shortage.... Well, actually, I shouldn’t say possibility. We know there’s a shortage in Western Canada. The question really is: when is this shortage going to creep up into the Northwest Territories?
I’d like to ask the Premier: from his perspective what can the Northwest Territories government, first, be informed about, what do they plan to do about it, and what role can we play in this situation?
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We became aware even previously. Last year, for example, there was talk of a shortage across Western Canada. The announcement that the Member is speaking about was refinery issues in Southern Canada.
For our supply here in the North — for example, to our remote communities — that’s resupplied by our Petroleum Products Division. Their fuel is up to max on the diesel side. For example as well, within the Power Corporation, at the Yellowknife facility, we have surplus supply there. We’ve taken the necessary steps and actions to protect ourselves here in the Northwest Territories.
We know, as well, from some of the discussion that last year Inuvik had some problems with resupply and worked that out with the bulk agent there, or Imperial Oil, in fact. I’m informed now that they have a good resupply as well.
Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to hear that the supply won’t affect the resupply process that happened already this summer. I mean, from a community perspective, knowing that you only get filled up once, maybe even twice a year if you’re lucky, you’re right: it has a significant impact. I’m glad that there’s stability there.
But, Mr. Speaker, there are things like food that have to be delivered to the Northwest Territories through the trucking system. There is home heating fuel that has to be delivered as well — things along those lines. That’s some of the issue that’s being raised here, the concern on the street.
I’m just curious. From the government’s perspective what can the government do to make sure that the food supply keeps moving if there starts to be a shortage that has an impact on that type of delivery?
Mr. Speaker, one of the things we’ve done in looking at the potential shortage is to make sure we’ve got our bases covered for our facilities and assets in communities. We would be prepared to work with the private sector if a scenario were to arise that there needed to be some movement there. Of course, we’d be working with that.
Mr. Speaker, the Member is talking about an “if” scenario, and it’s pretty hard to look at that option. We haven’t been contacted by any of the fuelling operations here — for example, in the capital — about any concerns.
Mr. Speaker, I guess it’s not so much of an “if” scenario as…. I mean, we plan EMOs for exactly these types of operations when something happens. I guess I’m really searching for the answer to how prepared the government is if this problem creeps into the Northwest Territories. Because, I mean, we get our food from places like Edmonton, Calgary and beyond, and that’s a reality if that’s a problem. If they can’t fill up their trucks there to drive north, it affects the reality we live in here.
Mr. Speaker, that’s the type of information I’m trying to get here. I’m not trying to embarrass anybody by any means. I’m just asking: are we prepared for that type of reality if this problem creeps up north, and is there any idea on how we deal with it?
If something were to happen, it may be a reality. The fact is we have looked at our areas where we have direct responsibility. In fact, when there was an issue about some shortages in the higher parts of the territory last year, the Department of Public Works and Services looked at routes Over the Top to look at resupply from other areas to ensure there was no shortage in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
