Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's Statement, I made reference to the cuts that are in my region, which is the ferry service during the fall in both the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers. Mr. Speaker, just when the department mastered operating in the fall season, it seems they have decided to cut this service. I would like to ask the Minister: why has the department made the decision to cut the ferry operations for the late fall services both on the Peel and Mackenzie ferry crossings? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Upon review of the ferry service in the Member's riding, I have been on record that the costs outweigh the benefits when we have had a serious look at this. That is the reason why we are bringing this forward in this budget. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do not know who they got to do their survey, or what they are basing this on but, Mr. Speaker, just look at the employment alone. Twenty to 30 people working every fall up there, especially the important time during the year just before Christmas, Mr. Speaker. Also, keeping the cost of living down during these times when the prices rise, which is both the fall and the spring, Mr. Speaker.
I would like to ask the Minister: has the department been working with the community of Inuvik to ensure that they don't run out of LNG, which is one of the other reasons for this operation running the place during the two months of freeze-up?
Yes, this is one of the things that we have looked at with the decision of moving forward. As the Member is well aware, the Dempster is closed 40 per cent of the time during this operation due to weather and unforeseen circumstances. Most of the suppliers have already had a serious look at how they are operating, have made adjustments to have extra storage capacity for propane and LNG in the community. Based around some of those decisions, that is why we are able to bring this forward in this year's budget.
I think the numbers that the Minister is using are from a couple of years back, when they were just learning how to actually operate in this climate, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I actually got some numbers from November alone. We had over 120 tractor trailers hauling freight or B-trains hauling fuel up in that area. I would like to ask the Minister: what is the department's plan if, for some reason, Inuvik is in an emergency situation with a need for LNG during freeze-up time?
As I have said, we have already engaged with stakeholders on this very topic, and we are very confident that the LNG plant and the propane people will have sufficient storage to get the community of Inuvik through this transition.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you never know how long this freeze-up could last. It could be two months; it could be three months, depending on the weather. For some reason, the pipeline to Ikhil, for example, something happened to that. That would have an impact on the LNG storage that is in Inuvik. Will the Minister take a closer look at this operation, and possibly reinstate it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have already had a close look at this. This is the reason we bring this forward as a reduction in the Minister's budget proposal, and I stand behind the department's decision to bring this forward.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
