Legislative Assembly briefs
Minister grilled on dredging, ferries
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, October 5, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Both Hay River MLAs put Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu on the hot seat last week at the final sitting of the 17th legislative assembly. Both Robert Bouchard, the member for Hay River North and Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen grilled Beaulieu over what they call inaction and a lack of attention to the need for dredging the harbour in Hay River.
"I'm getting very frustrated and it's getting very difficult to ... use the language I want to use. This has become a crisis for the community," said Bouchard.
"We have seen veteran fishermen that are not going out on the water because it is unsafe in the spring to go there until the bigger ships take some of the sediment down. They're not willing to go out on the water. How can our government sit here ... for decades and ignore that concern. It is ludicrous that we haven't dealt with this problem."
Both MLAs acknowledge dredging was at one time the responsibility of the federal government, specifically the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
"But that practice was discontinued in 1994. They sold all of their equipment and are not coming back. Our harbour is used by tug and barge operators, the Canadian Coast Guard, commercial fishermen and by recreational boaters," said Groenewegen.
"The Hay River flood mitigation committee has identified dredging as an option and a proactive approach to the annual threat of flooding in Hay River."
As far as Beaulieu is concerned the dredging issue remains in the hands of the federal government. He said he raised the issue in a letter to DFO last February but said her never received a response.
"There will be more to the discussion than just asking the federal government to step up with $12 million (per year) to follow their responsibility to dredge the Hay River," said Beaulieu.
"It would not be wise for the GNWT to step in and start taking over federal responsibility, paying for federal responsibility."
The transportation minister also heard from Beaufort Delta MLA Frederick Blake who is concerned both about the ferry landings on the Peel and Mackenzie rivers and the ferry times themselves.
Blake said heavy rain in the area has made the ferry landings soft and unsafe.
"Earlier this summer a fuel tanker had a puncture in its tank and thousands of litres spilled into the Peel River," said Blake.
"This was due to the soft landings because of the high water and rain we've been receiving."
Blake called for the construction of a permanent landing. He also wanted Beaulieu to look into co-ordinating the ferry times. He wants the schedule on the Mackenzie River ferry at Tsiigehtchic changed to 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. from 8:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.. the same as the Peel ferry, to keep people from having to overnight at the ferry crossing.
Beaulieu said he is willing to hear from the residents of Tsiigehtchic and hear what hours they want the ferry to run. In terms of the ferry landings, Beaulieu said it is a constant struggle.
"There may be years when we have dumped a lot of gravel to try to make the landings harder ... and then they wash away," said Beaulieu.
"We're trying to find a permanent solution as well.
Groenewegen to run again
Hay River South MLA Jane Groenewegen has ended months of speculation by announcing she will run for re-election for the 18th legislative assembly.
She was first elected as an MLA in 1995 for the 13th assembly. Groenewegen served in cabinet for about two years including time as health minister and deputy premier.
She pointed out in the assembly last week that her daughter was only six years old when she was first elected and now her youngest grandchild is older than that.
Brian Willows and Wally Schumann have also declared their candidacy for Hay River South for the Nov. 23 election.
Blake's daughter a page
Frederick Blake's performance in the assembly for this final session will be under close scrutiny by somebody near and dear to his heart.
Davina Blake is a Grade 8 student in Tsiigehtchic who is working as a page for the final sitting of the legislative assembly.
"It's great. It's good experience for her," said the proud papa. "It's a lot of fun and I've learned a lot. I am very interested in what my dad has to say about has to say about the issues in our community," Davina said.
