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CBC
4 days ago
- CBC
The barge season to the N.W.T.'s Sahtu region is wrapping up. Here's how it went
This year's long-awaited barge season for the N.W.T.'s remote Sahtu region will wrap up this week, to mixed reviews. Marine Transportation Services barges are expected to make their last stop in the Sahtu on Thursday evening in Tulı́t'a. It will mark the end of the first barge season to the region since 2023. Last year, low water levels on the Mackenzie River prevented barges from travelling there at all. Terry Camsell is the director of the Marine Transportation Services (MTS) division in the N.W.T. government. He said this year, Tulı́t'a, Norman Wells, and Fort Good Hope will each have received two barge tugs, which have delivered 8.9 million litres of fuel and 950 tonnes of cargo to the Sahtu — a haul they are "very pleased" with. He said he is especially glad that they were able to fully resupply all three communities with fuel, which was their "main focus" this year. "All the fuel that they required, we delivered to them," he said. But not everyone is happy with how the season went. Customers have complained about the high prices to ship cargo and the short notice of the barge season, which made it hard to plan shipments. People in the region were given just four days to get their cargo on the first tow, which left Hay River on July 6, and less than two weeks to make the official cutoff for the second tow. Tulı́t'a Mayor Douglas Yallee said the turnaround time for both shipments was too short for the local government in Tulı́t'a to bring in the supplies they would usually get on the barge. Camsell said he understands this frustration, but the delay was caused by uncertainty as to whether water levels on the Mackenzie River would be high enough to allow ships to navigate, and, as such, was difficult to avoid. "If we can't transit the Mackenzie River then obviously we can't do any deliveries." Camsell said his team is working with the coast guard to develop a procedure to send barges from Fort Simpson, N.W.T. as a contingency plan if low water levels persist. This would allow barges to bypass difficult-to-traverse rapids around Fort Providence, N.W.T. if need be. This could give customers more certainty, he said. He added that he is confident MTS could have this procedure in place by next year. Cargo rates too high, critics say Yallee also said he would like to see MTS bring down the prices for cargo on barges to the Sahtu, a call echoed by Frank Pope, mayor of Norman Wells. Pope said he is grateful that the barges were able to bring fuel, but the prices for cargo aren't affordable. "I'm almost at the stage now of thinking, are we better off making a deal with Buffalo [airways] for a preferred rate that matches what the barges are charging," he said, referring to an air service the company offered last year. Joshua Earls is the owner of Ramparts grocery store in Norman Wells. He said that this year, he paid almost three times more to transport two trailers of groceries than he paid in the past with private barging service Cooper Barging Service. "It's not great," he said. Camsell said Earls likely paid more than most for his grocery order, because bringing trailers onto the barges costs more than shipping containers. Norman Wells Mayor Pope said he plans to speak with Vince McKay, the N.W.T. minister responsible for MTS, about the need to reduce freight costs going into next year — and that Minister McKay is open to the discussion. Camsell said reducing cargo rates for MTS shipments in the Sahtu would be a political decision, and it would likely require major changes to how MTS is said with current prices, the service is able to "more or less" break even each year. But if prices were lower, the barges would operate at a loss. Camsell also stressed that barges are still much more affordable than air barging, with the rate coming to about 18 cents per pound of cargo, as opposed to 60 cents for air barging.
CBC
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBC
Low water, short lead times pose challenges for Sahtu barge season
The Northwest Territories' barge season has so far been more confusing and frustrating than some residents expected. Last year, no barges were able to sail into the Sahtu region because of low water levels. This summer, two tows carrying multiple barges each are scheduled to travel down the Mackenzie River, making stops in Tulita and Norman Wells, as well as one in Fort Good Hope. But short lead times to get cargo on board, and higher prices than expected for certain loads, have made the vessels' eagerly-anticipated departures bittersweet for some Sahtu residents. People in the region were given just four days to get their cargo on the first tow, which left Hay River on July 6, and less than two weeks to make the second, which is currently set to sail on July 26. Marine Transportation Services (MTS) states online that the cutoff date for getting goods on the second tow was Wednesday, but MTS director Terry Camsell said Thursday that they're actually still accepting cargo, and will continue accepting it for as long as they can. "When we planned the first trip, we were unsure when the second trip was going to be, of course. So, I mean, you have to pick a date that you're comfortable with," said Camsell. "If in fact we were able to make the first trip faster, then the second trip, of course, would be sooner." If and when barges leave depends largely on water levels, and also on wildfires and other factors. Water levels on the Mackenzie River are still well below average, and it's very difficult to navigate in smoky conditions with little visibility, said Camsell. He also warned that if water levels drop too low, the second tow might not sail at all. If that happens, MTS plans to truck the cargo to Fort Simpson and ship it out from there on chartered barges. Begging with suppliers and pulling all-nighters Knowledge of the cargo acceptance extension came too late for Joshua Earls, the owner of Ramparts, a grocery store in Norman Wells. "We were told the July 9th cutoff," he said, adding it would have helped to know that he had more lead time "because we rushed to get all our stuff there. It nearly killed me." Earls normally needs two weeks to organize a shipment of groceries, which made the first tow's tight deadline impossible to meet. When he learned a second sailing was scheduled with a cutoff date just over a week and a half out, he scrambled – begging with suppliers and pulling two all-nighters. "I thought it was almost impossible too, but yeah, people helped pull through and make this all happen," he said. Earls got his two trailers of groceries to Hay River on the morning of the stated cutoff date, but even then, he couldn't let out a sigh of relief. He said he was shocked to learn that MTS would charge him much more for his trailers than what he had paid in the past with another barging service. "When we got there and got our quote, we realized it was almost the same price as flying in our items, and we thought there was a mistake," he said. For Earls, shipping cargo down the Mackenzie is the economical way for him to restock his shelves. He believed using the N.W.T. government-operated vessel to get his goods to Norman Wells would help keep his costs down, and similarly the prices in his store. Now, he said, it seems that isn't going to be the case. Earls said he would have used Cooper Barging Service, but he wasn't certain the company would run barges this summer. Cooper Barging Service declined to comment. Camsell said Earls' situation is unique, as trailers are rarely used to transport cargo on the river, and that MTS hopes to "come up with a solution for that customer." 'It wasn't feasible for us' Only the first tow heading down the Mackenzie River is set to sail all the way to Fort Good Hope. That set of barges contains fuel for Tulita, Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope, gasoline for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and about 400 tons of dry cargo, including goods bound for Sahtu Northern Stores, said Camsell. But other organizations in Fort Good Hope couldn't get their orders processed in time. "We couldn't commit to putting things on the ground without certainty that the barge would go, but the decision to get a barge going was so late that it wasn't feasible for us to make an order," said Arthur Tobac, the business manager with Ne'Rahten Development Ltd. in Fort Good Hope. Tobac would have wanted to ship up building supplies, like paint and insulation. He said using the barge brings down transportation costs. Chief Collin Pierrot in Fort Good Hope said the band office hauled up a lot of what it needed for community operations on the ice road last winter. "We didn't know if there was going to be a barge this year again, so we didn't take any chances," he said. Camsell said there will be a fuel barge that goes from Tuktoyaktuk to Fort Good Hope around July 20, and that people in Fort Good Hope who missed the first tow from Hay River can try to get their cargo on that ship.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Yahoo
Low water, short lead times pose challenges for Sahtu barge season
The Northwest Territories' barge season has so far been more confusing and frustrating than some residents expected. Last year, no barges were able to sail into the Sahtu region because of low water levels. This summer, two tows carrying multiple barges each are scheduled to travel down the Mackenzie River, making stops in Tulita and Norman Wells, as well as one in Fort Good Hope. But short lead times to get cargo on board, and higher prices than expected for certain loads, have made the vessels' eagerly-anticipated departures bittersweet for some Sahtu residents. People in the region were given just four days to get their cargo on the first tow, which left Hay River on July 6, and less than two weeks to make the second, which is currently set to sail on July 26. Marine Transportation Services (MTS) states online that the cutoff date for getting goods on the second tow was Wednesday, but MTS director Terry Camsell said Thursday that they're actually still accepting cargo, and will continue accepting it for as long as they can. "When we planned the first trip, we were unsure when the second trip was going to be, of course. So, I mean, you have to pick a date that you're comfortable with," said Camsell. "If in fact we were able to make the first trip faster, then the second trip, of course, would be sooner." If and when barges leave depends largely on water levels, and also on wildfires and other factors. Water levels on the Mackenzie River are still well below average, and it's very difficult to navigate in smoky conditions with little visibility, said Camsell. He also warned that if water levels drop too low, the second tow might not sail at all. If that happens, MTS plans to truck the cargo to Fort Simpson and ship it out from there on chartered barges. Knowledge of the cargo acceptance extension came too late for Joshua Earls, the owner of Ramparts, a grocery store in Norman Wells. "We were told the July 9th cutoff," he said, adding it would have helped to know that he had more lead time "because we rushed to get all our stuff there. It nearly killed me." Earls normally needs two weeks to organize a shipment of groceries, which made the first tow's tight deadline impossible to meet. When he learned a second sailing was scheduled with a cutoff date just over a week and a half out, he scrambled – begging with suppliers and pulling two all-nighters. "I thought it was almost impossible too, but yeah, people helped pull through and make this all happen," he said. Earls got his two trailers of groceries to Hay River on the morning of the stated cutoff date, but even then, he couldn't let out a sigh of relief. He said he was shocked to learn that MTS would charge him much more for his trailers than what he had paid in the past with another barging service. "When we got there and got our quote, we realized it was almost the same price as flying in our items, and we thought there was a mistake," he said. For Earls, shipping cargo down the Mackenzie is the economical way for him to restock his shelves. He believed using the N.W.T. government-operated vessel to get his goods to Norman Wells would help keep his costs down, and similarly the prices in his store. Now, he said, it seems that isn't going to be the case. Earls said he would have used Cooper Barging Service, but he wasn't certain the company would run barges this summer. Cooper Barging Service declined to comment. Camsell said Earls' situation is unique, as trailers are rarely used to transport cargo on the river, and that MTS hopes to "come up with a solution for that customer." Only the first tow heading down the Mackenzie River is set to sail all the way to Fort Good Hope. That set of barges contains fuel for Tulita, Norman Wells and Fort Good Hope, gasoline for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, and about 400 tons of dry cargo, including goods bound for Sahtu Northern Stores, said Camsell. But other organizations in Fort Good Hope couldn't get their orders processed in time. "We couldn't commit to putting things on the ground without certainty that the barge would go, but the decision to get a barge going was so late that it wasn't feasible for us to make an order," said Arthur Tobac, the business manager with Ne'Rahten Development Ltd. in Fort Good Hope. Tobac would have wanted to ship up building supplies, like paint and insulation. He said using the barge brings down transportation costs. Chief Collin Pierrot in Fort Good Hope said the band office hauled up a lot of what it needed for community operations on the ice road last winter. "We didn't know if there was going to be a barge this year again, so we didn't take any chances," he said. Camsell said there will be a fuel barge that goes from Tuktoyaktuk to Fort Good Hope around July 20, and that people in Fort Good Hope who missed the first tow from Hay River can try to get their cargo on that ship.
CBC
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.W.T. gov't rejects call to declare state of emergency in Norman Wells
The Government of the Northwest Territories says that rising costs in Norman Wells do not meet the territory's definition of an emergency, and that declaring a state of emergency in the Sahtu community wouldn't help residents much anyway. The territorial government was responding to a motion MLAs passed in February, calling for a territorial state of emergency to be declared for humanitarian reasons, and to communicate that to the federal government. Sahtu MLA Danny McNeely brought that motion forward, saying that rising food insecurity and heating costs, along with increasingly unreliable infrastructure for resupply, are making life and business in Norman Wells extremely difficult. Town councillors in Norman Wells had also declared a local state of emergency months earlier. In a written response to the motion last week, first reported by Cabin Radio, the government says that declaring a state of emergency is warranted when special regulations are required to protect people's safety, health or welfare, or to limit damage to property or the environment. It says that while critical, the situation facing Norman Wells residents doesn't meet the criteria for emergency. It also says that declaring a state of emergency wouldn't create access to additional federal or territorial funding. The rising costs in Norman Wells are related to a failed summer resupply in recent years due to low water levels. The territory said in its response that that is part of a "larger climatic trend," and that the government is responding with both immediate relief and long-term planning for future such events. In the short term, the territory points to its subsidy on fuel in Norman Wells, a $150,000 donation to the Norman Wells food bank and a $1.8-million emergency fund for businesses, Indigenous and community governments in the Sahtu and Beaufort Delta to offset transportation costs. The response also mentions the territory's efforts to ensure a successful winter resupply, including widening the winter road. It also mentions a $500,000 federal project that will bring wood stoves to the Sahtu to lower reliance on heating fuel. The territory said that it's continuing to advocate for federal funding to support N.W.T. communities, including continuing work on the Mackenzie Valley Highway to build a more resilient supply chain by connecting Wrigley to Norman Wells with an all-season road.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing N.W.T. rent hikes higher than suggested, some tenants say
Some tenants in Housing N.W.T. units say their rent is going up by more than what the territory has suggested. Housing N.W.T. this spring raised the rent on its market-rate units across the territory, by hundreds of dollars. Those units are used on in smaller communities where housing options are limited, for nurses, teachers, RCMP, other critical workers and community members. One teacher working in the Sahtu points out that Housing N.W.T. has said the highest rent increase in the territory was $500 for a three-bedroom unit — but the price of his one-bedroom unit has gone up by more than that. "They're saying the top end is lower than what they've increased mine and all my neighbours," the teacher said. CBC News has agreed not to name him due to fears of reprisal in relation to his housing and living situation. CBC News has seen multiple documents from several teachers that show significantly higher rents than what's in Housing N.W.T.'s new rent scale. Tenants began learning of the rent increases last month. The news prompted considerable reaction, especially from teachers, who occupy many of the market units. Housing N.W.T. owns and leases both market-rate units and subsidized units but only the market units are seeing a rent increase. The territory's housing minister has said the rent increases were a difficult but necessary move to maintain fairness in the housing market, and said the additional revenue is needed because of declining federal support. The Sahtu educator has a one-bedroom unit and his rent is going up from $1,240 to $1,937, an increase of $697. That does not include power costs. According to Housing N.W.T.'s new rent scale, a unit of that size would should now be $1,437, which includes the cost of heating fuel. In a statement to CBC News, Housing N.W.T. says it cannot discuss individual rental rates, but said the rent scale prices only include heating fuel and not other expenses. It said there are also "special arrangements when other utilities are included in the rent," such as in a multi-unit building where water is not individually metered. Those "special arrangements" appear to mean exactly $500 on top of the rent scale increase for some tenants. In those units, Housing N.W.T. is responsible for heating fuel, water, sewer and garbage. The Sahtu teacher said the increases and additional costs could be the tipping point for whether he decides to stay in the North. "Long term it doesn't make sense," he said. He says it's the same for some of his co-workers. "Another teacher was on the fence about staying. Their roommate left and because the rent has been increased so much, it's just not worth risking not having a roommate to split what is now unaffordable," the teacher said. He's also puzzled by the new market-rent scale being the same across the territory. He said he often hears politicians and organizations talk about how communities vary across the territory and there's no single approach that works for all of them. "When it suits their purposes they can say that rent needs to be set to market rates. But how can [my community] be charging the same amount as a place 1,000 kilometres away, on the ocean?" Some tenants are also perplexed by the territory's claim that rental rates have remained unchanged for its market units since 2012. Some of those tenants received notices saying the last increase for their rental unit was in 2014, 2016, or 2019. Asked about those apparent increase, Housing N.W.T. did not comment but said that it encourages tenants to "contact their local housing organization should they require further clarification on their rental situation."
