Debates of February 27, 2018 (day 17)

Date
February
27
2018
Session
18th Assembly, 3rd Session
Day
17
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Queston 176-18(3): Shoulder Season Ferry Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in follow-up to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, how has the Department of Infrastructure monitored the impacts of its decision to end shoulder season ferry services on the communities that historically relied on those ferry services? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't believe we've done that. The whole intent of the ferry service in the winter that the Member is talking about was to address the situation at the Ikhil Well and we took that out of the budget in the last session, and we believe that the proponent in Inuvik has made this a priority for them to bring propane in to be able to keep the flow of the Ikhil Well and the propane flowing.

The Minister highlighted his department's work on accelerated ice road construction. What is the status of this work in the Mackenzie Delta?

I don't have the exact dates in front of me, but from my recollection from what I read from my briefing note before on the update on this is, when the ferry service pulled out, the one crossing was put in within 10 days of that date, and the other one was within a month's time. With our new equipment, there was a significant challenge this year, and we have actually done it still in record time because of the warming temperatures.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Oral questions, Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister means record time by mid-February. I don't call that record time, but we'll have to discuss that later. Mr. Speaker, when will the department assess and review its decision to end the shoulder season ferry services?

I have no intention to look into the shoulder season around the communities. Our concern when we put it in was around the Inuvik situation, and as far as I've been updated to date, everything is under control. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.