Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On October 4th and 5th the community of Ulukhaktok experienced a 27-hour power outage. Here is the assistant SAO Joseph Perry’s report. It’s with great pride that I write you about the recent power outage. The community lost power last Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and it was restored Wednesday afternoon, affecting over 20 households as well as the airport. Special thanks goes out to the housing foreman and his crew, airport maintainer and his crew, municipal foreman and his crew, recreation director, administration, and all of the other teams that worked together and set the action plan in motion to make everybody as comfortable as possible.
The most important task was to restore the heat. Generators were placed in strategic locations to ensure that everyone had their furnaces running and at least essential power. The housing crew set up split shifts throughout the night to ensure all generators were full of fuel and that none failed.
The recreation director collected donations of coffee, tea and snacks, et cetera, and opened up the shelter for those who wanted to join in with others for comfort and just to talk.
The airport maintainer ensured the heat was restored at the airport and was standing by with flare pots to light the runway in the event of NWT Power Corporation being able to make it in that night. Two people were on the phones standing by all night in case a plane would arrive.
Everyone in the community remained calm and assisted in any way they could. Again, the first priority was to restore the heat, make sure all the food was available for those in need, and keep the people informed of the situation.
This is a fine example for everyone working together in the community of Ulukhaktok and they are commended for their understanding and patience during emergencies. Communication, cooperation is alive and well in Ulukhaktok.
The NWT Power Corporation arrived as soon as the weather cleared, due to icing conditions. They diagnosed the situation and quickly restored the power and were extremely professional and diligent in their duties.
I would just like to thank everybody in Ulukhaktok and thank the Power Corporation for their good work. I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
