Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to go back to something I raised in February in this House and that is the need for the runway lights in Jean Marie River and Nahanni Butte. In my recent tour to these communities, I found that concerns on this matter are growing. For the most part, these communities are reached by air, and the lack of runway lights diminishes the safety for air travel for residents. Lack of runway lights can also make it difficult for essential services, such as emergency medevac, to travel to Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte at night or during inclement weather. Thus, a resident or visitor may be left without necessary emergency care.
Most community airports across the NWT are equipped with basic infrastructure, such as adequate runways, navigational aids and runway lighting. This ensures that communities can be safely accessed by air 24 hours a day year round. The Minister of Transportation has stated that public safety is the number one priority in his department. Airport runway lights are a matter of public safety.
I ask the Minister to make a commitment to include airport runway lights for Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte in the 2010-2011 capital plan of his department. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member from Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
