Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, in the Committee of the Whole, I asked a question whether or not the double-hulled barges we are going to take delivery of will be soon going to the Mackenzie River. The answer I received was yes. These barges are 3500 series versus our current 1500 series. They are heavier than our double-hulled Deh Cho barges. They have a freeboard of 13 feet versus the 6 feet that our 1500 series have. There will be problems offloading deck crates, so communities' fuel capacities will be cut in half, probably, because of drafts on the Mackenzie River and because these barges are really ocean-going class, not suitable for shallow water. Will the Minister commit to having her department review the answer received yesterday and provide me with an updated answer? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As it's been a very busy day, I have not yet had a chance to follow up on my commitment in the Committee of the Whole yesterday, but I do commit to having the department provide me with a better briefing and understanding of the double-hulled barges and their abilities to work on the Mackenzie. I commit to coming back to the Member with the results of that discussion.
If it is found that these barges are not suitable for the Mackenzie River, can you check with your department about if we have another use for them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I'm going to be very concerned if those barges do not operate on the Mackenzie, but, as that was prior to my time in this role, I don't have that knowledge on hand right now. Of course, I commit that, if we purchased barges that cannot be used for what is their originally intended purpose, we would be looking for other places in which we could utilize those barges, perhaps in the ocean. I'm not familiar with their specifications of whether or not they are all just freshwater or if they can go to marine, as well. I'm assuming there would be multiple uses for the barges, and I commit to that.
I know the Minister will like this question. Can the Minister provide me with the engineering process that was used to decide on the double-hulled 3500 series barges?
If that process does exist, I will provide you with it. If that process hasn't been used in the past, I commit to you that it's going to be used in the future under my ministerialship. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister also commit to have her department review the processes used when purchasing any such assets for MTS? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
One of the first discussions I had with my department was to ask for a review of MTS, so I will commit to that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
