Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These questions will be for the Minister of MACA. Mr. Speaker, again, the flooding in Hay River, you know, it was devastating, and it's going to take a few years to recuperate. And so far, you know, I think that this government and the federal government has stepped up. They provided funds. They've done a good job. You know, it takes time. You know, we lack you know, we lack, you know, the contractors in the community to do all the work all at once. And, you know, and then the supply chain, that's still a problem. So there's a few issues.
But one real issue is in areas such as Paradise Valley and there's another location where they had seven to eight feet of water. And for them to mitigate damage, they've got to billion a say, a pad probably ten feet in the air, or they've got to put their houses up ten feet in the air with, you know, on steel piling. So one of the options within the DFFA or DFAA, was properties or was property acquisitions, which would allow this government or the community government to buy back properties where building should not be put on. So I'm just wondering I'd asked the Minister has his department considered this. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Hay River South. Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I got six minutes and 28 seconds, so I'm going to take the time to answer this question.
Mr. Speaker, when the Member talks about maybe putting houses up eight to ten feet, I can tell you right now in other communities that had the same flooding the previous year in 2021, that's what we had to do. We had to put homes up eight to ten feet. In my riding, in Jean Marie River, we had to actually do that.
In regards to the question that the Member has asked, he's asked this numerous times in this House, we're looking at the various options available for the residents and we're working with the federal government on how we can move forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I left five minutes and 40 seconds on the clock.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I appreciate the Minister giving me a little more time here. And, you know, when I talk about putting those houses up, but these are properties primarily where there's agriculture going on, where this government has supported them through ITI and all of a sudden they're going to have to move, or something's going to have to happen. They've got greenhouses. And I don't expect those greenhouses to be 10 feet in the air. And so it's a bit of a different different than just putting somebody's House in the air. So I think that that's got to be given some consideration.
The area is mitigation. You know, what happened last year was an anomaly I guess, because I never thought it was going to happen and I've lived there for my whole life, 32 years oh sorry, 66. So anyways, like mitigation, we've got to look at doing something. And so I'd ask the Minister what mitigation measures are we looking at that will be supported by the federal government? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I live down the street from the Member so I guess I've been there for 32 years too. So I appreciate that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, Mr. Speaker, I understand, you know, what's required for mitigation in Hay River. And it's a very variety of things. For instance in one area, which is known as Cranberry Crescent, they there's houses there, and they're pretty expensive houses and they've all got basements. And they got flooded. Yet, there's no way they're going to lose their basements and raise their houses up. So what they need is a berm and raising the road. So in that sense, what is the government doing to ensure that's done? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about Cranberry Crescent, so when we talk about mitigation, sometimes it's not about the berms; sometimes it's about the ability to move the furnace or the boiler up on to the next floor there on that. So we're working on that.
In regards to the question that the Member has asked, because the road wasn't impacted by the flood, we are now working with the community. We are actually doing a survey on that road and seeing how we can work with the federal government on other programs that are available. If we're able to access that funding, then we're going to be able to work on that road. It's not we're not going to be building a berm. We're going to be looking at enhancing that road, making it bigger, taller, whatever, wider, whichever you want. And it's going to be a little bit longer because right now people are heard saying it's only needs it for, you know, a kilometre. It actually if you look at it, it actually goes down to the pump House station. So it goes that far so we need to look at building that road. And we're working with the Infrastructure on this to get this job done. So, again, it's a collaborative approach. We are working with our staff are working with the Town of Hay River. But we're also working with Infrastructure because that's the department that's working on that road there so we are working with them on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Final supplementary. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, mitigation. Like, you know I understand that there's you know, for private homes, raising the furnace, okay, that's fine, that's easy enough to do. And, you know, there's some other things they can do. It's mitigation for places like Cranberry, like the road. That's great. But we're coming into a season where breakup's going to happen here at the end of next month and we have done limited work within the town. If the same thing happened, people who had fixed up their houses are going to be in the same basically, you know, in the same position. So, you know, what is the timing to actually look at kind of an overall mitigation plan for Hay River? And I know you've got to work with the town, and you've got to work with K'atlodeeche as well, and I think it's important that, you know, it's got to be collaborative. But, you know, we need some type of timeline because we don't really hear get the information back. So can you provide that. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we been working with the Town of Hay River and K'atlodeeche First Nation on things moving forward. In regards to mitigation, as long as there's a plan in place, then we're able to use our disaster assistance policy if the situation happens. The old adage is prepare for the worst and hope for the best. So we are working on that. The timeline, we're working with the town and the reserve, and it's with them. We have to be able to work with them to come up with a timeline. That's on their speed. We're not going to rush and do it wrong. As the Member said, we're getting close to breakup, but we are working on it, and I've had the opportunity to be in Hay River as they're prepared for their flood preparation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Colleagues, our time for oral questions has expired. Written questions. Honourable Premier.
Mr. Speaker, I'm going to try one more time. I seek unanimous consent to return to item number 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery with unanimous consent. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. The Premier's seeking unanimous consent to return to item 5. Are there any nays? There are no nays.
Madam Premier.
