Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to address a number of things regarding our ferry services at Fort Simpson. First off, I would like to thank the Department of Transportation Fort Simpson's staff, both in the office and out in the field, for the great service they provided. They are very much about serving the people of the NWT and I thank them for this. Mr. Speaker, I continue to fully support the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce's efforts to have the M.V. Lafferty's hours of service extended by two hours every morning. During my election campaign I spoke to a number of business owners and staff of the department and a number of constituents about this matter.
I have determined that the increase in the hours of service would create a number of benefits including:
giving the community an extra two hours of ferry service daily;
opening the ferry at 6:00 a.m. means the community is open for business earlier and allowing businesses and people the opportunity to go to Hay River, High Level and Yellowknife and return home on the same day, helping to save costs;
people traveling out of town, whether for business or pleasure, will have two extra hours of travel time;
road maintenance staff will be able to get out on the roads quicker and get working on the roads to make them safer for travel for all residents;
supplies and services to the highway camps will happen in a more timely manner;
safety and emergency services will be extended;
the extra hours could potentially require an additional ferry crew, resulting in additional local employment.
Mr. Speaker, I have been speaking with the Minister on this matter and doing everything in my power to promote the extension of the ferry hours in time for the 2016 ferry season. Unfortunately, this hasn't been successful. I have stressed to the Minister that there is no local support for creating the extension by stopping ferry service for two hours in the afternoon. The community and region want the same service that was offered at the Fort Providence ferry crossing that served the people north of the lake. Mr. Speaker, additionally, I believe the Department of Transportation needs to study the idea of moving the ferry landing further up the Liard River to get away from the low spots at the current location as well as the potential of building a floating bridge or causeway using the islands further up the river.
Mr. Speaker, I hope the Minister and department will be visionaries and seriously look at these ideas and work with the community's political leaders, business leaders, and the residents of the Northwest Territories to make it happen. Later today I'll have questions for the Minister regarding this statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members’ statements, Member for Mackenzie Delta.
