Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is the territorial leader in emergency planning.

Each community is responsible for developing its own emergency plan, one to help them deal with things like forest fire evacuations, communitywide power outages, and more, but MACA is always there to help.

I am glad to hear that, Mr. Speaker, because emergency planning is on people's minds in the Mackenzie Delta. The recent windstorm and multiday power outage in Paulatuk really drove home how easy it can be to fall prey to natural forces. Residents also remember...

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you. Seeing nothing, I will call the departmental total. Industry, Tourism and Investment, total department, $57,420,000. Does committee agree?

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think the Minister needs to update his information because everything is not fine at kilometre 140. It is actually flowing alongside the road there, which is flooding out the camp alongside the road. It is pretty clear that it is needed at kilometre 140. Will the Minister ensure that a heat trace line will be put at 140; if not, for a pilot project? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As the Minister mentioned, there have been backhoes out there and also steamers, which the department has been doing over the last nine years or so. That adds to a lot of costs. What other options has the department developed to solve these problems?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year, at about this time, I raised the issue of overflow at Georgetown at kilometre 140 of the Dempsey highway. I suggested that a heat trace line be installed to prevent freezing of the culvert there. I believe the Minister of Infrastructure had his department look into what could be done.

Judging from this year's overflow, it appears that work on this matter did not go beyond looking into it. The water was flowing until ice built up in the culvert. Now water simply builds up on the south side of the highway until it flows over the road and along the side the road...

The Minister answered a part of my next question. The Minister did mention they will put a heat trace line at kilometre 213, but how about kilometre 140 and the other areas, Mr. Speaker? If the department is not going to solve the drainage issue another way, will heat trace lines be installed in all of these overflow areas?