Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know this has been the worst forest fire season in the NWT history. This is the first time in history that twothirds of NWT residents were forced to leave their homes. These tragic events displaced nearly 30,000 people for weeks and resulted in the loss of millions of hectares of land burned. In Tlicho region, four houses and 15 traditional cabins burned, as well devastating loss of traditional food from both vegetation and wildlife. The damage done to our lands will take decades to repair.
Mr. Speaker, this fire season has seen two Tlicho communities, Wekweeti and Behchoko, needing to be evacuated. Other communities were also evacuated, and some were put on alert status.
Mr. Speaker, the GNWT current wildfire management policy has completely failed the people of the NWT. All NWT residents have been impacted and millions of hectares of land destroyed across the NWT. This wildfire management policy needs to change before more damage is done to NWT lands and communities.
Mr. Speaker, these fires all started out small and controllable. In such a dry, in a hot dry year, these fires should have been put out right away, not allowed to burn hoping that they extinguish themselves. This failure allowed millions of hectares of land destroyed and impacted the lives of every NWT resident. We cannot even begin to estimate the wildlife, the animals burned, plants, and all the animal habitat destroyed and the longterm impact this will have on residents of the NWT. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.
Unanimous consent granted
Mr. Speaker, all fire seasons, during all the fire seasons, the Minister has said that it is the hottest driest year, and that is true. In these extreme weather condition, a change to the policy should have happened. Letting fires burn until they threaten critical infrastructure has catastrophic results for the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, GNWT policy may have failed the people of the NWT the people of NWT did not fail each other. The people of the NWT were there to support one another. They opened their homes and hearts, volunteered their time and resources to support each other. It makes me proud to be a resident of the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the firefighters for the work that they do. They put their lives on the line and work countless hours to save NWT communities and our communities of Wekweeti and Behchoko. I also want to thank all the community government workers, volunteers, people who stayed behind in Behchoko and Wekweeti to support the firefighters. Even after ECC pulled out of Behchoko, some residents stayed behind to continue fighting the fire and save our community.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank all the people who supported Tlicho citizens during Behchoko and Wekweeti evacuation in Yellowknife. Thank you for your generosity and kindness.
Mr. Speaker, we were not happy with how our Tlicho communities were treated during Yellowknife evacuation. I will have another Member statement to discuss these concerns. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
