Barges on the Hay River 'dragging through sand'

Barges in Hay River, N.W.T. are scrapingbottom.

Hay River is a hub for Canadian Coast Guard operations and shipments that are carried further North.

RobertBouchard, MLAfor Hay River North, says water levels are too low and debris has piled up.

He saysthe river needs dredging and it needs it now.

"I know it's a federal responsibility, ourgovernment has told us that several times, but we've been trying to encourage the government to find ways [to help make it happen]," Bouchard said.

Dredging removes the build-up of silt and obstacles on the river bed.

Federal cuts ended the dredging program in the1990s, which haspassed the costs along to the users of ports.

Bouchardsaysbarges in Hay River have reduced their capabilities. He says they'recarryinglighter loads and the debris hascaused delays andcancellationsof shipments up the Mackenzie River.

A'vital link' for N.W.T. communities

GregWhitlock, who works forthe territory's Department of Transportation, says Hay Riveris a hub forresupply and that's why it's so important for dredging to happen

"The port of Hay River is a vital transportation link for the resupply of goods and services along the Mackenzie River and [communities in]the Western Arctic are somewhat collateral damage to the closing of that program."

N.W.T. Transportation Minister Tom Beaulieu says thedepartment andfederalagencies, including the coast guard and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), have met to discuss the problem, but theresults haven't been promising.

In fact, the department saw more cuts this year.

Whitlock says DFOhas given small-craft harbours across the country $100 million dollars, but so far that funding has not been allocated to the Hay River area.

Flooding also a concern

Ross Potter,HayRiver's Director of Protective Services, says whilebarges have been "dragging through the sand,"there's more to the story than delays in transportation.

Potter says a buildup of debris poses a risk to people who live around the port duringthe spring breakup season.

"We also need to be able to protect the people in old town from flooding and a real easy way of getting that done is dredging," Potter said.

Beaulieu says he plans to ask to meet directly with the federal minister responsible.