Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the middle of October, over 50 volunteers dragged six truckloads of garbage from the bush north of the Vee Lake Road boat launch. This area hosted events like the annual Yellowknife Ski Loppet and Frostbite 45, and is used by local recreation clubs as well as individual mountain bikers, bird watchers, hikers, hunters and leaseholders.
I want to offer my thanks and congratulations to all involved. The volunteers came from Great Slave Snowmobile Trail Riders, Scouts Canada, the Yellowknife Multisport Club, NWT Motor Sports Club, Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society, and local cabin owners.
The GNWT and members of the local exploration industry provided $24,000 in funding to the community groups. The City of Yellowknife provided garbage bags and waived tipping fees on small items. The cleanup effort was initiated and coordinated by TerraX Minerals as part of their consultation process with user groups in the area that they are exploring. They have provided, through this work, an excellent example of how to reach out to the community and get something useful done in the process.
Apparently there is still more out there to clean up, including larger items like old cars and fuel tanks. There are plans in the works for a larger cleanup next year and I look forward to it.
I am aware that Weledeh constituents David Connelly and John Stephenson – and I see John in the gallery today – played key roles in this project, and there were certainly others not mentioned here.
Again, I would like to offer, on behalf of all of us here I’m sure, congratulations and thanks to all involved. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
