Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I want to talk about MTS and the community resupply delays.
The reasons for these delays have been attributed to others and always no fault of our own management. This government is normalizing and accepting of this substandard form of service.
Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible for MTS previously stated reasons for not making the delivery to Sachs Harbour. What we have heard was that coast guard were late setting buoys, the Hay River channel was an issue, flooding in Hay River delayed access to the harbour, climate change was an impediment, fuel hoses were sabotaged in Norman Wells, weather was a factor, they were helping a company with fuel delivery, that they were waiting on suppliers, and the list goes on. Madam Speaker, what the Minister does not say, that while not making deliveries to Arctic communities which rely on annual resupply, is that MTS was busy delivering fuel to the North Warning System in Nunavut. They were delivering freight to Sabina Gold in Nunavut which had to be completed by others. They were shuttling fuel from the Torm Lily, a fuel ship, to Tuk.
Madam Speaker, while communities were waiting on resupply, MTS vessels were busy servicing other customers at the expense of northern communities.
Madam Speaker, this government purchased the assets of NTCL for the main reason of providing uninterrupted and timely resupply of goods to communities, something we have trouble with and accept failure with consequences for no one. I question who is providing management and oversight of MTS.
Any company, or person who has worked in the North will know that there are many factors that could impact a project. Knowing this, MTS management and this government should be prepared to adjust the bestintentioned plans with optional timelines and delivery mechanisms based on the many elements that work against timely delivery. These elements include weather, water conditions, ice conditions, mechanical issues, reliance on third parties, personnel, and taking on additional contracts. And in the end, the priority must be the communities and not that of bidding on other work if it interferes with community resupply.
Madam Speaker, we have asked this government to review the corporate structure and management of MTS for a reason; that reason being to identify a corporate model with experienced management that would provide safe, dependable, efficient, and timely delivery of goods and services to those communities relying on annual resupply. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Member. Members' statements. Member for Nunakput.
