Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently planes were unable to land in Inuvik for a number of reasons, notably that runway did not have enough friction for the airplanes to land properly. Our region and our communities rely heavily on the airports, especially Inuvik. The reliability of infrastructure, wherever there is a telecommunications system at our airports, the airport systems are a critical process to the economic development projects and the people’s safety. It is a critical time to provide a certain standard of living for our residents in the Beaufort-Delta and the more northerly communities. Mr. Speaker, a friction problem at minus 20 degree weather might be allowable in Vancouver Island, but not in the High Arctic. It is unacceptable.
Airport managers have been working hard and resources that they have been... Our government needs to do more to help them. Airports all over the Beaufort-Delta require more resources. Some communities in Nunakput have recently had airport construction, like my three airport terminal buildings in Sachs, Paulatuk and Ulukhaktok. I would like to thank the Minister and rehabilitation he has injected are greatly appreciated, but our resources are referring to the technology. You would think that especially in the High Arctic the government would have issues such as de-icing our services preparation techniques in and around the airport.
Most of the people in the Beaufort-Delta recognize unique challenges living in the region, but we are concerned if our flights are cancelled. We had three flights cancelled this week out of here, out of Yellowknife heading into Inuvik, which caused havoc with communities and doctors’ appointments. Resources, lack of certain technologies are used elsewhere. Other technologies of this government must be required to advance the aviation tracking communications, weather tracking systems. These systems are additional for pilots in conditions such as fog and blizzards.
As I expressed previously, small, remote communities in Nunakput solely rely on airports for all of our means of transportation. A schedule of chartered flights cancelled, preventing people carrying out business, medical appointments, visiting family and other unique opportunities like the kids’ hockey tournament in Inuvik coming up this weekend, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
