Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my Member's statement was on shipping and timing in regards to my riding. It's really essential because three communities that I represent are on the ocean. And this year, we're worried in regards of having our shipment so late into the season, in September, due to ice conditions and in the rough seas because our boats are only limited to do so much.
Mr. Speaker, is there any way like, we have six and a half months of planning, is the Minister able to direct her staff with MTS in regards to servicing the community first before servicing contracts? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the marine delivery needs of the ISR communities, of any Northwest Territories communities, do not take a backseat to North Warning System contract or any other commercial contracts. MTS serves the ISR communities with dedicated tugboats and barges. I think the Member's going to be happy to hear that, that we dedicate our tugs and barges to the to the smaller communities. So a different tugboat and barge is used to serve the for example, the North Warning System. These marine operations run concurrently, but they don't interfere with each other. In the past summer, though operations were temporarily delayed by ice, the ISR communities did receive their freight. And a different tugboat than Nunakput did North Warning System deliveries and was completed on time this season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. I'm really happy to hear that we have Nunakput serving Nunakput, and look forward to that this year. But we have six and a half months of planning to do to make that happen.
For the timeline, June 15th was when the ocean opened up on our side and boats are already coming in from June to September. Why did it take so long? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the tugs leave from Hay River. So I mean, there are a number of factors that we need to consider, including the ice to melt in the lake and getting it up the river. So those are some of the reasons why. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So in regards to the shipping, you know, we came in in September. We can't have that, what happened in 2018 with that service and costing former government millions of dollars to service our communities. So, Mr. Speaker, how does it work and where do they buy the fuel in regards to servicing the communities if they're coming up and they're doing tows out to the community, where are they buying the fuel and can we get it cheaper so we could pass on those cheap rates to the people of Nunakput? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if that's okay, I'm going to get back to the Member in terms of where exactly we purchase, and I think that was the Member's question last week as well. So, you know, we can look into, you know, where we get our fuel and if there's cost savings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to again thank MTS for the service that they do. It's just a matter of getting a schedule that is doable because this year, like I said in my Member's statement, that people had boats, fourwheelers on there, that were wanting to hunt and go whaling in the community of Paulatuk firstly and they weren't able to get them until September, and they got to use it once. Mr. Speaker, more of a comment, but thank MTS for their service this year but we'll work on the scheduling. Thank you.
Thank you. Taken as comment, but I'll let the Minister respond, short.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll make this really short. Over the past two and I think this is really important because, you know, there are some of the delays and, you know, climate change has a big impact on it as well, but I do want to just quickly say that over the past few years, in Canada's Arctic waters, water and ice condition have been less predictable than in previous years. It is unfortunate, but ice and bad weather can sometimes interfere with our marine deliveries. Ice and weather can be dangerous. MTS operations must be safe operations. Our captains will not put their crews, vessels at risk. MTS had an excellent safety record over the past five seasons, and we're very proud of that record and I do want to note to the MTS staff that, you know, this is much appreciated. So the tugboats for the ISR communities was delayed by ice this year. All of our deliveries to the communities were done. Boats and crews made it home safely. And I think that's very important. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
