Mr. Speaker, in a couple of weeks the trapping season is going to start up in Inuvik, and that’s when all the trappers go out and do their muskrat trapping. It’s been a way of life for many years. But this year we might be running into some problems if we don’t get our gas issue taken care of and dealt with.
I’d like to direct my questions today to the Premier. I’d like to ask him what the government is doing to help mediate the fuel shortage in Inuvik.
Mr. Speaker, we have in fact been working. The Public Works and Services Petroleum Products Division has been in contact with community members as well, and Imperial Oil — their representatives, the agent — to try to come up with some information so we know where we’re starting from; and then as well making contact to get further information as to what the plans are for ensuring the community has a sufficient amount of gas and fuel for the winter season.
Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to ask the Premier. He did mention that we were in contact. But I’d like to ask him if we’ve had regular communication with NTCL, who was supposed to deliver the fuel, and Esso, who was supposed to load the fuel into the barge. Have we had contact with them as to what went wrong, and why it went wrong, and if there’s anything that…? Have they taken responsibility?
Mr. Speaker, the work that we have been doing is ensuring that there’s fuel available in the community, working with Imperial on that side. We are aware of some of the comments or the issues between NTCL and Imperial. We’ve tried to gather information on that side.
When it comes right down to it, we have a limited role that we can play. But we are concerned and we are sharing that concern that it doesn’t matter to us, as representatives, if it was a community we served or the private sector: their arrangements to get fuel or supplies to a community are their business. But they should ensure that it gets there, and if they’ve made a mistake or an error, that cross shouldn’t be passed on to the individuals.
We’re still working on the fact that they need to supply the community, and it shouldn’t be based on rationing anything.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Premier. We’ve already heard that the cost is being passed on to the consumers, which is unfortunate. But as a government, would we be able to truck gas in to ensure gas stations at least have their supply of gas to serve the community?
Mr. Speaker, if the companies or the delivery agent — or not the delivery agent, because the delivery agent is for Imperial, but the companies — that pump out gas in that community would make a request, we would consider that. We know in fact when there was talk of potential shortage, through the Petroleum Products Division, an offer for 400,000 litres was made. We were informed it wasn’t required.
Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Premier. He said that we were informed that that $400,000 wasn’t required. Who actually informed us them that the fuel was not required?
Mr. Speaker, a correction: it was 400,000 litres of fuel.
When it first came up, our communication between the Petroleum Products Division and Imperial was to see if, in fact, there was a shortfall that needed to be addressed. We had some volume that we felt we could allow them to use and reimburse us later. We were informed at that point that that was not necessary. Thank you.
