Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is regarding telecommunications problems over this weekend in Nunakput and all of the Beaufort-Delta.
Around this time last year, Mr. Speaker, I stood up in this Assembly expressing concerns regarding problems with our telecommunications with services in various communities of Nunakput and this week all of the Beaufort-Delta. When long distance calls, faxes, Internet all went down, the Interac machines went down and when the stores opened they couldn’t use Interac so if you didn’t have cash, you were out of luck to purchase your groceries. We had a break in the storm. Tuk was going for two days. They had a break for about five hours and then it hit for another three. So they had a five-day storm. Winds were gusting up to 90 and 100 kilometres. Our telecommunications services went down again.
This is unacceptable. We have to work with NorthwesTel to provide better service in the communities with our government. We have to get a fibre optic line right down the Beaufort-Delta and into the Sahtu so we can provide better service. The problem with NorthwesTel’s microwave tower up on the Dempster Highway, repair crews couldn’t get in there because of blowing snow and reduced visibility. This is a serious matter.
This government needs to review our services with the provider. One of the core responsibilities of this government is to provide an environment that encourages business development. If that environment is jeopardized, then this government needs to make things happen fast with regard to providing service. I believe this government has a role to play with all the groups that are working together to ensure the people of the Northwest Territories have adequate access to telecommunications.
We should work with NorthwesTel to try to get away from the microwave towers and back into fibre optics as soon as possible. We have to make an investment.
I’d also like to say thanks for a Power Corporation employee on duty this weekend in Tuk, Richard Cockney. He stayed for three days at the Power Corporation, not going home, with no food and just with water. He should be given an award or something. This guy stayed there. He was probably a kilometre away from his home.
I’d just like to thank Richard again and I will have questions at the appropriate time for the Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
