Mr. Speaker, as we prepare to leave for the summer, I just want to ask the Minister of Housing a couple of questions here. You know, we were supposed to get a couple units barged on the Mackenzie River. I just want to make sure that, you know, I know all the buoys should be in place by now and so I’m going to make sure that everything’s on track and will these mobile homes actually be shipped down the river over the summer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of NWT Housing Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, unfortunately, during the fiscal year 2015, the modular that was supposed to go into Tsiigehtchic was delayed because of the low water and the barge was unable to get into the community, but it’s scheduled to be; we’ve made arrangements for Cooper to carry it into the barge and so it should be in this year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I know we only have two months here of barging season. I know it should be three. But you know, by the time September comes around, the water is so low that, you know, the barges have difficulty here. If these units do not make it to Tsiigehtchic and also Aklavik too is supposed to get a couple there, I believe. You know, what’s the department’s plan if that doesn’t work out again this summer?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Currently, we’re not looking at any delays with it. It is scheduled to go up on the Cooper barge and so it should be there by the end of August. We’re expecting that it’ll be complete. The site work is all completed and so we’re just waiting for the modular unit to get in and then we’ll be setting it up and it should be ready to go by the end of August.
Mr. Speaker, you know, quite a while back, the barge used to actually land in Tsiigehtchic and unload there. I’d just like to ask the Minister if they’re familiar with what the process is going to be. Will it actually go to Inuvik and then be trucked to Tsiigehtchic, you know, that would add costs for sure, but you know, if that does happen, will they contract that work out, as soon as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all honesty, I’m not too sure how the barge works to get into Tsiigehtchic. I can look it up and get back to the Member on that question, but like I say, it is scheduled to be in the community and set up by the end of the August. If that doesn’t work out, then we’re not projecting that there will be any difficulties, but if there is, then we’ll look at it at that time, recognizing that NTCL, this will be the last year and that we have gone out to tender to try to get another barging system in place.
Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
