Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have some questions about Bob's Navy that will be directing to the Vice Admiral of Infrastructure. I'm talking, of course, about the Marine Transportation Services, and I have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. When Cabinet purchased NTCL, they purchased a lot of decommissioned vessels, barges and tugs. It is my understanding that disposal of those units has begun. Is that correct? I'll just start with that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to thank the deckhand for asking the question. To address the concerns of both hazardous materials as well as a review of the highest and best use of assets, including decommissioning barges, tugs, and other equipment the Marine Transportation Services identified to clean up scrap metal mostly located in Hay River at this point. That work has already commenced. There was an RFP out in July, and it started in late 2018, and we suspect that that will be completed by the fall of 2019.
Could the Minister elaborate on just what is going to be disposed of? I know there are a couple dozen barges right on the water, and then there are probably a dozen tugs in the NTCL yard itself. Could he elaborate on how much of that is going to disappear from the landscape?
To date, we have approximately removed 500 tonnes, so that is a significant amount. We are looking at possibly committing an additional 500 tonnes, but to date, out of that 500 tonnes is included 10 barges and one tug so far.
Now, I know scrap metal has a value. It is probably not much. Is this costing the government money, or is there some money coming into the government's coffers from this?
Marine Transportation Services is proceeding with the scrap metal cleanup through a cost avoidance plan, and to date we have had proceeds from that sale of $600,000.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and finally, if the Minister could please talk about how this has been used as an opportunity to keep money in the North, and employ Northerners and train Northerners? Could the Minister explain what type of northern content was included in the RFP and what type of northern businesses are being employed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There are a number of questions there, but I'll gladly answer them. First of all, on the northern content, we can be able to supply that information once the scrap metal removal plan is completed. We can commit to doing that. He has asked about whether there are opportunities; we are looking at other opportunities of partnering with Indigenous governments or development corporations to provide business opportunities, training, employment, and those types of things for scrap metal up and down the river system. NTCL has a number of properties up and down the river system that have years and years and decades old of scrap metal that still have to be cleaned up, so we will be looking at those opportunities going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
