Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. We know that Fort McPherson ran out of gas in Tsiigehtchic and ran short of groceries during the last winter season. How is the department prepared to prevent these kinds of crises in our small communities this winter? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I answered in my previous question, it's based around communication. We have to communicate with the people and the residents of Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic particularly. It's not up to us to tell the gas station how much gas they have in stock or the grocery store how much food they have in stock.
Our job as the government is to indicate that there could be an incoming situation in which there is significant probability that that may happen in the Member's region this year because of the coldness of the water. The department has informed me that it's well below the normal temperature of the water. We suspect, if conditions continue this way, that the ferry is going to close prematurely, maybe like up to two weeks earlier than normal.
Mr. Speaker, it's funny the Minister is saying we need to communicate. Last year, in this very House, I mentioned to the department that we will have extended hours because it is so warm, yet the department pulled out the ferry prematurely while the river was open another almost two weeks. It's funny that the department has that response.
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure is responsible for the laws and policies that govern road, air, and marine transportation, not to mention the infrastructure itself. What actions is the department taking this winter to keep the costs of living down, especially when it comes to the transportation of goods to our small communities?
I'm glad to answer this question because this government has done a lot of stuff to help address the cost of living in the Northwest Territories, particularly infrastructure. We have our public highway system. We subsidize ferry operations. We have community airports. All of these things help support the delivery of goods to the communities.
You know, we have to keep our assets in check so we have the efficiency of resupply. Roads are particularly probably the cheapest way to get stuff to communities, depending on where you are. What this government has committed, as the Finance Minister said today, we're going to come out with the largest capital budget probably in the history of this government. A lot of it is around the road system and energy system, but it's going to help address the cost of living in many communities.
We have a lot of communities that don't have access 24-7 or 365 a year. We secured funding for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. We have secured funding for the Tlicho all-weather road. These things are proceeding. We have a number of energy projects that we have clearly laid out in our 2030 energy strategy. The Finance Minister clearly indicated the investment that we are making in these things. These things all go towards help to make the cost of living and our quality of life in the Northwest Territories better.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, how is the department preparing for the end of the ferry season and the beginning of the ice-road season to ensure as smooth a transition as possible?
I want to remind the House of last year, this exact situation. We committed to having a newer, lighter equipment to facilitate the winter road system. We have that machine up and ready and we were training our staff again in the region.
Last year, if I remember the dates between, in the Member's riding, I think the river closed on the 4th and the 8th, and both rivers were open by the 18th. That's only 10 to 12 days of shutdown for access to light vehicles. I think the department did a great job, and I commend them on their efforts, and we will continue to do that and make sure that the impacts are negligible on the communities.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, now a million dollar question, if you will: when can we expect the ferry services to be extended through the winter extension like it has in the past?
This ain't a million dollar answer because I have answered this question a number of times in the House. The winter operations were due to around the Ikhil well and that situation. I have said in this House many a time that the winter operations weren’t effective. The Dempster was closed 40 per cent of the time during that operation. The reason we did that was to secure energy for the community of Inuvik, and that has been addressed through the contractors. We are not committed to putting any more money into the winter operations of that ferry. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. I would like to remind Members that we haven't gone through all Members asking questions due to the fact that some of the questions and answer were a bit long. Just a reminder as we move forward to be cautious around the answering and the questioning. I will allow the Member from Kam Lake to ask the oral questions.
