Shane Thompson

I thank the Minister for that answer. It actually comes down to the million-dollar question: has the department looked at actually building a bridge across the Liard River? We are talking about Mackenzie Valley Highway. We are doing a bridge up at the Great Bear River. Has the department looked at building a bridge or a floating bridge, similar to what there is in BC, using the two islands in the river? Have they done a cost analysis of that?

I hope that the Minister and the department actually really looks at it because, from what I understand, it sounds like a good idea.

The last question I do have is just in regards to when he talked about cost of freight going up the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk. Now we have that road there. Have you guys or will you guys look at the cost of doing this? I understand that the railhead is here. This is the cost going up the railhead, but here is the cost going up on the Dempster to Tuktoyaktuk highway. Because I mean, to me, we spent a lot of money on building that road, and here is an opportunity to...

I greatly appreciate that answer from the Minister. Yes, they are doing some really good work, trying to get the ferry operational and extending as possible.

In my previous conversations with the Minister, I spoke about the idea of moving the ferry landing to the Enbridge road and having the other landing relocated to the town dock. Has the Minister and the department looked at this option and have they done a cost analysis?

Thank you. I thank Mr. McCormick for explaining that. Will the Minister provide this information at the meeting and explain exactly how that works so we can understand that? I mean, for me, I understand a little bit better, but I would like to be able to get that information out to my communities, even though they are not on the large shipment process. With this petroleum product eating the cost, the freight, it has an impact or could have an impact. I am hearing from Mr. McCormick that it doesn’t, but can we get that clarified and presented at the committee meeting? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of constituents here: Lyla Pierre from Sambaa Ke, Nathan McPherson from Fort Simpson. Also in the crowd is the Mackenzie Recreation Association, a number of members of them, who just celebrated their 25th anniversary, and I am very proud to recognize them here, in the House. I had an opportunity to work with a number of them previously: Janie Hobart, Erin Porter, Jessica VanOverbeek -- I said her name wrong; sorry, Jessica -- and Dale Loutit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the people of the communities are happy with that. What is that cost going to be if we are providing it for free? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay. If I understand this correctly, if we didn’t have these situations happening, we would have had an extra $3 million from the operations of MTS this year? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. McCormick, I am getting a little confused here. What is the $875 when it is in the revolving fund? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am just trying to get a clear picture of this, here. When we talk about $22 million in cash reserve, can you please explain what that reserve is? Is it cash? Or is this equipment? Or is this product? Or is it a combination of everything? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I thank the Minister for the non-answer. I mean, I find it really interesting that this is a government decision. They are going to decide who has the rights and who are the squatters on this land. That is their job. They should be getting the information to each community so that the communities can get that out there.

If it is not going to be able to do that, will the Minister provide us with the information that they are providing to these Indigenous government organizations and give it to us so that we can now go to the small communities and do the government's job?