Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today was on MTS, and providing services to our communities on the coast, and making sure that the MTS is a lifeline to our three communities; Sachs, Ulukhaktok, and Paulatuk. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to make sure that the Minister is committing and ensuring the schedule for the planning 2020 sealift is under way. They have a schedule out, but where is this Minister standing in regard to talking with their department on going forward with the 2020 season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Excuse me, here. Marine Transportation Services continues to improve capacity to upgrade a professional and reliable marine shipping service in a challenging Arctic environment. It remains committed to providing the best possible service to all customers. I am currently looking to instruct my department to provide me with a fulsome summary of the marine transportation system so I can have a better understanding of how it all operates, so I can ensure that it is moving forward in the proper manner. I can commit to sharing information with the Member as I receive it, and we can have further discussions going forward, so that he can see that we're moving forward on track. If he has concerns, he can raise them in real time with me, and then we can make sure that they're addressed prior to it impacting our season.
I just want a commitment from this Minister in regard to putting contracts aside and making sure the people are served first. Is the Minister willing to commit to that in the House today?
Yes. It is my belief, personally, that the marine transportation system's first priority should be the resupply and refuelling of our communities, ahead of any charter or business interest that they may have. So, yes, I commit to the Member that the priority of MTS will be the resupply and not the business aspect of it.
That's my first yes, I think. I ought to thank the Minister for that, and letting the people know that we'll be providing service for the people first. Will the Minister come to Nunakput to meet with my leadership in coastal communities, which MTS provides that service to, and meet with them to see the proper sailing dates and stuff like that, that work that with the communities to ensure that, you know, for housing, if their material lists are coming in, and equipment lists, to make sure that they're providing the service?
Even in my former life, I had heard some concerns around the MTS, the shipping industry in the Northwest Territories, so, yes, I commit to the Member that I will come to his region and see it firsthand. It was unfortunate that, while I was up in the Beaufort-Delta, my schedule didn't permit for me to go and visit the communities as much as I wanted to, so I commit to making it to the Member's home communities as soon as I possibly can.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you Minister for that. I'm encouraged to see that we're all working together to help me to serve the people in my riding and making sure that that's one less thing they have to worry about. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I note the Member's comment, and I thank him for his input. He has done very hard work in keeping the issues for his communities in the forefront of my mind and my attention. I agree; we need to make sure that people have security, and that they know that they're going to have fuel, and they know that they're going to have food, and that they're not paying through the nose, because we've had to fly all of that in, because there was some sort of a mix-up in the scheduling. I commit to the Member that we will work out the best way to fix this issue. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
