Date
May
17
2007
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Debates of May 17, 2007 (day 9)
Topics
Statements
Member’s Statement On Relocation Of Tuktoyaktuk Municipal Infrastructure Due To Coastal Erosion
Calvin Pokiak
Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning, I had an opportunity to meet with the Premier and some of his colleagues and also the mayor and deputy mayor of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to raise a concern in regard to the important need to identify immediate funding dollars for relocation of municipal infrastructure requirements for the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. I say this, Mr. Speaker, because the shorelines in the community of Tuktoyaktuk are rapidly deteriorating because of permafrost melting which causes erosion along the west and north end of the community.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet council has raised this issue with MACA officials from Inuvik on numerous occasions during the review of their five-year capital plan. As an example, the gravesite is full to capacity. The location of the landfill site causes concern for potential health problems, and the point on the north end of town is eroding rapidly to a point where someday the houses located inside the harbour may eventually flood if protection to the sandpit is not protected.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet council is very concerned and would like this government to immediately direct and discuss with MACA in implementing a plan to provide emergency funding to address the erosion problem in the location of the landfill site, gravesite and the need for gravel requirements.
The hamlet has already identified, in their capital plan, for the relocation of these municipal services. The proposed services are identified on the east side of the harbour and are in close proximity to the proposed access road to source 177.
Mr. Speaker, if these services are not addressed immediately by MACA and discussions with the hamlet, the community, as I said, may be flooded in the near future.
Therefore, I am requesting MACA to immediately meet with the hamlet council of Tuktoyaktuk to discuss and provide emergency funding to address the relocation of the gravesite, a landfill site, and gravel requirements and the ocean problem. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of MACA at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause