Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Barging schedule was on my Member’s statement. I ask the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, what is the current arrangement between this government and the resupply courier, NTCL? There are a number of rumours out there about the courier’s financial position. I know that we are going to see the sailing service acknowledged by the current courier, but are we quite confident that they will fulfill the season’s sailing schedule? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Public Works and Services.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This situation of NTCL came as a surprise to the GNWT as well. We did our due diligence. We looked at alternatives. We made sure we had a backup plan. We have a strong working relationship with NTCL and through our talks and the negotiations, we have actually got their confirmation that they will be sailing for this fiscal year. The court process that they went through, that they initiated, a restructuring process, kind of gave them some leeway to be able to operate for this season. People may be aware that within the current newspapers we do have a new release or request for proposals for the next sailing season. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the RFP, could the Minister confirm that there are additional requirements, I would say seven in the RFP, to isolate, I would probably say, all couriers in this northern territory underneath the business directory? For example, does the RFP require that all vessels, be it the tug itself or be it the barge itself, that they have to be double hulled? If that is so, Mr. Speaker, then it restricts anybody and everybody that is currently operating right now because the current operators, I am not too sure, have that standard. Would the Minister confirm, please?
The Department of Public Works and Services does recognize that there are some issues going into some of our northern communities. We have taken that into consideration within our request for proposals. There are companies within Canada that actually do have the ability or have the ability to purchase what they will need to be able to provide the service to the Northwest Territories.
Given that there are companies with that additional qualification, such as double hulls, and it is also this government’s mandate to acknowledge BIP and capacity building for Northern operators, are there avenues to work with the proponents out there in that marine sector?
Yes, the GNWT is always interested in working with people to support businesses within the Northwest Territories. However, the request for the proposal has gone out. We will be seeing what comes forward to us. At that point, then we will make a decision on what we need to move from that point forward.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question is, if the Minister could supply me with information related to this season’s schedule and the future plans. I know the RFP is out, I just saw that a few hours ago. I am not familiar with the document itself. But if I could get some information to pass on to the leaders of the Sahtu and any other interested leaders down in the valley that gets resupplied by the marine barging season. In one case, in Fort Good Hope in particular, they are only getting one barge courier per season. They have no other options other than air support. That is really not an option in some cases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am more than committed to trying to keep the Members as informed as I can, although sometimes I may need a reminder on that. I acknowledge that. We will commit to speaking to the Member at his convenience on that. Also if the committee would like to, we can provide a briefing on that as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.
