Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister meet the leaders in Aklavik to find a solution to this crisis? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The petroleum products division manages fuel supplies for communities that aren’t served by the private sector.

When will the department step in to help a new community, one like Aklavik where residents are experiencing severe rate shock?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I need to raise the urgent concerns of the community of Aklavik. Gasoline and heating fuel prices are putting extreme pressures on my constituents. There are also potential power rate increases. Prices have increased by 35 percent. That means gas that cost $1.60 per litre in August now costs $1.90 per litre today, just one month later.

The people of Aklavik had no warning that this was going to happen. When Beaufort-Delta Petroleum took over fuel delivery, the company did not meet with the hamlet council. They didn’t let their clients know of a rate change in advance and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just on the Willow River Bridge, I don’t see the point where the department provided this bridge. Installing it was $2 million and all we get on a yearly basis is $200,000. I know the department did provide a bit more than that this past year, which was great, but it’s time for the department to step up here and provide the $2 million to actually put this in place. You know, we’re throwing around $200 million or $300 million here on one highway. A little infrastructure that means a lot to the community would really go a long way here. This is better than 1 percent of what...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned earlier today, I have a petition here signed by the people of Aklavik.

We the undersigned citizens, homeowners, hunters and trappers, community governments and recreational vehicle users are concerned about the high cost of heating fuel and gasoline, hereby support a call for proposals for a new distributor of fuel and gas and oil products in Aklavik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to ask the Minister, how long would it take Public Works and Services to provide fuel and gasoline to Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I have questions for the Minister of Public Works and Services.

The Department of Public Works and Services has a mandate to provide expert support and innovative leadership in community fuel provision.

How will the department help Aklavik to address their urgent concerns about the price of gasoline and heating fuel?

Earlier this summer the ferry in Tsiigehtchic started waiting on each side for 10 minutes, and the explanation that was given to my constituents was that the department was trying to save on fuel.

Will the Minister direct his department to ensure the Louis Cardinal Ferry is not waiting on each landing for 10 minutes to save on fuel?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement, I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation a few questions. The one thing I forgot to mention was not only do we have issues with the hours of operation in Tsiigehtchic but also the waiting time. Many constituents have to wait 10 minutes on each side, not to mention the actual other 10 to 15 minutes.

With that, my first question for the Minister is: When will the department develop and construct a permanent landing that can be used on both the Peel River and the Mackenzie River crossings?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have been receiving many concerns on the ferry services in my riding on the ferry landings to the Peel River, which are very soft from weeks of rain and high waters. Earlier this summer a fuel tanker had a puncture in its tank and thousands of litres spilled into the Peel River. This was due to the landings, soft landings, the gravel there, because of the high water and rain we’ve been receiving. For about three weeks solid we’ve had rain every day.

My constituents would like this government to construct something, whether it’s solid landings made of concrete, rig mats...