Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just trying to get a clear picture of this, here. When we talk about $22 million in cash reserve, can you please explain what that reserve is? Is it cash? Or is this equipment? Or is this product? Or is it a combination of everything? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for the non-answer. I mean, I find it really interesting that this is a government decision. They are going to decide who has the rights and who are the squatters on this land. That is their job. They should be getting the information to each community so that the communities can get that out there.

If it is not going to be able to do that, will the Minister provide us with the information that they are providing to these Indigenous government organizations and give it to us so that we can now go to the small communities and do the government's job?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I was asking questions of the Minister of Lands about cabins and squatters and Aboriginal rights and that, and I have to thank the Minister for following up and providing me further information.

However, I would like to ask him the question: with DFN being identified as the organization that their staff is working with, is it now DFN's responsibility to get this information out to the cabin owners? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for that answer. I appreciate the department looking at that.

In our other conversations, we also talked about moving the landing upstream, which is, you know, a kilometre up, which would access deeper water and ensure better service to the residents from Fort Simpson. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and done a cost analysis, as well?

I greatly appreciate that. When I was down south, I ran into a couple of individuals, and they talked about these air ships, the new technology. Has the government started to look at that as potentially something that MTS can get into in the future? Thank you Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I talked about ferry operation and the problems that were happening in Fort Simpson. I have to commend the Department of Infrastructure again and their staff from Fort Simpson. They have been able to get the ferry operating from 9:00 to 6:00, and I greatly appreciate that. However, with water levels, that is a big concern. Has the department done any analysis of possible solutions to alleviate this type of problem in the future? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Roughly about $40,000 at the high end. Okay, thank you. When we talk about the petroleum revolving fund, when we talk about this, now we are saying that, using the Minister’s words and I apologize if I didn’t get them exactly right, they are going to eat the cost of the petroleum, the freight being back and forth. That is great that we are getting the petroleum and that into the communities, and I think that is great to hear.

My question, though, is: this revolving fund, how does that impact the cost of fuel next year for all communities? Because I am assuming the purchase is bulk, that is how...

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately today, I rise in this House to inform you about the passing of a respected elder from Fort Liard.

Mr. William Marie Bertrand was born to Marie Angel Timbre and Baptiste Bertrand in Maxhamish Lake on February 19, 1938. He passed away on July 9, 2018. The service was held in Fort Providence a week later.

William went to residential school in Yellowknife. Later, he went on to Fort Smith for his heavy equipment operator training.

William met the love of his life, Mary Jane Williams, in Fort Smith where she was working at a hospital on January 3, 1967. William and Mary Jane...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Minister for that. I got a little bit of clarification a little bit better there. When we talk about the rebates to the clients that have these vehicles that are not getting shipped in there, it is great that the department is going to give back the rebates, but will the department make a commitment to these same owners that they will charge them the same freight rate this year for next year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. When the Minister and department is going to be coming to committee to present, will we have the actual bottom line what money we have? When I’m hearing $22 in the bank and $875,000 here, I mean, it sounds like we have $22,875,000 minus liabilities and that. Now, I’m sitting here, trying to understand this. If we look at the liabilities, we look at the assets and depreciation of the equipment and that, our numbers actually go down, if I am understanding this correctly. Can the Minister or Mr. McCormick please clarify? Thank you, Mr. Chair.