He’ll take no for an answer

Glenn McLean, MLA for Baker Lake, sought reassurance this week from Public Works Minister Peter Kattuk that there would be no increase in the price of gasoline and home heating fuel to reflect the cost savings in the GN’s fuel supply contract with Woodward Group of Labrador.

Last year, the GN awarded its lucrative fuel supply contract for the Baffin and Kivalliq to Woodward, ending a longtime relationship with Nunavut Transportation Company Ltd. (NTCL) of Yellowknife.

NTCL then pulled its dry-cargo service in the Kivalliq.

Kivalliq residents, upset in the change in dry-cargo suppliers, have long believed that they would be paying for the fuel supply changeover out of their own pockets.

“Can the minister tell us, by the end of this session, whether there will be a price increase in gasoline or home heating fuel?” McLean asked Kattuk.

“No,” the minister replied.

Though Kattuk seemed to be saying that he could not answer the question, McLean took a more positive meaning from the minister’s monosyllabic answer.

“I thank the minister for saying no, there will be no increase in gasoline and home heating fuel,” McLean said.