Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in March 2023, I rose in the House to bring light to the Kosmos 954 incident, a disaster that left deep scars on our lands and the people in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding. Mr. Speaker, to recap the benefit of those listening here today, in the winter of 1978, Kosmos 954 and its nuclear reactor crashed over Great Slave Lake. The crash scattered radioactive debris over 124,000 square kilometres over the frozen lands and lakes and recovered pieces emitted the radiation level of 500 rad tonnes per hour, enough to kill a person in a few hours.
Mr. Speaker, it takes more than 700 million years for uranium to fully decay. Exposure to radioactive material can pose serious health risks. Depending on the level or duration of exposure, it can lead to acute chronic illness, including cancer, genetic mutation, organ damage, and in the NWT rural and remote communities our people have limited access to health care facilities making it difficult to detect and treat radiation related to health issues. Radioactive contamination can have long lasting effects on the environment. It can contaminate soil, water sources, vegetation and wildlife, disrupting ecosystem and food chain. This contamination can persist for many years making it difficult for Indigenous people to use their natural resources for agriculture, fishing or hunting.
Mr. Speaker, I must stress that the radioactive contamination can create a sense of fear stigma within our communities. People may experience anxiety, stress, and mental health issues due to the concerns about their safety and the future of their community. For decades, this has been the case. And the literal fallout from Kosmos 954 has continued to affect social relationships and the psychological wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Mr. Speaker, prompt and effective management include monitoring, cleanup, and community support is crucial to mitigate the impacts and facilitate recovery of rural and remote areas affected by the radioactive contamination. While initial efforts were carried out swiftly during their operation Morning Light, there are still strong concerns about the drastic spike in cancer in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding around Great Slave Lake in the early 1979. That continues today.
Mr. Speaker, 45 years after the crash, there are still questions, and later today I hope the Premier will be able to provide further answers to my questions, so I gave comfort to to give comfort to my constituents in the Tu NedheWiilideh riding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
