Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Aklavik is located on the west side of the Mackenzie Delta on the Peel River. Shoreline erosion, river embankment collapses, sloping and mudslides are a common occurrence throughout the Mackenzie Delta.
Mr. Speaker, climate change is real. It is affecting the residents of the Mackenzie Delta in that the average year temperature in the Mackenzie Delta has increased by 1.7 degrees Celsius over the past century, and more than anywhere else in Canada, the Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on earth and, Mr. Speaker, the effects are seen by the residents of Aklavik and throughout the Mackenzie Delta.
Mr. Speaker, this government has to take climate change seriously and realize that we do have a major threat looming in regards to what we see happening in coastal communities throughout the Arctic with what’s happening with regard to communities in Alaska where they are now being classified as basically climate change refugees, because they have to move their communities from the coastal shorelines inland and the effects that climate is having.
Mr. Speaker, we have seen the effects in communities such as Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik and also we can see it as we travel down our river systems, from shoreline erosions, major mudslides, and even in the mountain ranges where we can actually see large chunks of land which basically have slid into the creek beds. Again, with the rising temperatures and the effects that we see, we, as government, have to realize that we have to take this issue seriously and look at what we can do to shore up the safety and security of our communities. More importantly, Mr. Speaker, as a government, we should not be propping up industry; we should be propping up our communities to ensure they’re there for another century. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
