Thank you, Madam Speaker. My statement today is on the Fort Good Hope flood. Madam Speaker, today I want to talk about the recent flood in Fort Good Hope. I want everyone in Fort Good Hope to know that I’m thinking about them today. I’m very proud to say that the community really pulled together to help each other through this very difficult time. I also want to thank the government’s response to the needs of the community when they requested help. Finally, I want to thank the local emergency measures team in Fort Good Hope for all the work they did, especially to Joe Grandjambe, Fred Rabesca and Henry Tobac, and to the many volunteers who just did the right thing by helping out 24/7.

Madam Speaker, the ice is gone, the floods are receding, but there is still a huge mess to be cleaned up in Fort Good Hope. I don’t want anyone to think we’re forgetting them. Over 25 people and families have been affected by this flood. A lot of families and elders are still homeless and are having to live at other homes. This is a terrible situation, Madam Speaker. Some estimates say that they may not be able to get back into their homes for another three months or longer. I see similar situations on TV such as floods. However, coming face to face with the effects on families and communities is quite a different story.

So my hat is off to the people, especially the elders who were affected directly. I want to encourage the Ministers of the Department of Public Works, Housing Corporation, Health and Social Services, ITI, ENR and MACA to come up to Fort Good Hope to see for themselves the damage that was left there by the floods, so the families can feel confident that the government’s highest level of legislators have their attention and their homes will be getting the attention they deserve to get it done.

Madam Speaker, the community has also suffered losses to their cabins and equipment out on the land, and they need some government help. Madam Speaker, the flood is gone, the people are left high and dry, the community is rebuilding and they will rebuild. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause