Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Four years ago, it was reported in the Globe and Mail newspaper, the Federation of Municipalities of Canada reported that we needed at least $123 billion to repair or replace municipal infrastructure in Canada. It’s beyond our wildest imagination as to where or how Canada will ever find those resources in today’s economy let alone the Northwest Territories communities. We have gas tax initiatives, community planning and infrastructure funding, and in some places, the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. However, this is not enough and will never be enough if we really want to begin doing all that we need to do for the municipal infrastructure.
Some time back, Fort Good Hope and other smaller communities benefited from the GNWT main street chipseal program, which to some people was a great thing. It cut down on the dust and gave people a sense of what a community can expect with government helping with this problem. However, this program was cut and now the community has to take over the program along with other projects. Because of competing priorities, the chipseal has deteriorated and there are giant potholes in the roads of Fort Good Hope. It is in need of much repair.
Mr. Speaker, even four by fours have a difficult time getting out of these giant potholes, let alone a regular pickup. My point, Mr. Speaker, we need to begin to reprofile some of the dollars that will eliminate the dust once and for all and consider advancing discussions with companies like Easy Street to help Fort Good Hope and other communities with potholes. MACA has moved a long way to empower communities with decision-making abilities and it is the right thing to do. However, we all know municipalities are our government, and our government must find the solutions to settle the dust once and for all, or at least get out of the potholes. I think so, my community leaders think so, and this government should also help us in this solution. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
