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, flooding out Georgetown.
As I noted last year, it was a safety issue, and it continues to be a safety issue today.
The cause seems to be changes on the highway and impacts of climate change. The issue was raised in Tsiigehtchic's Land Use Plan as far back as 2009.
The 2010 Gwichya Gwich'in Climate Change Adaptation Planning Project report refers to the possibility that highway culverts were shifted by permafrost or incorrectly installed.
Mr. Speaker, blocked highway culverts are the responsibility of the Department of Infrastructure. Nine years after this problem was identified by the community, it remains uncorrected, and I am beginning to think the department is frozen as solid as the culverts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Sahtu.
