Mahsi cho. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since our last Assembly sitting, the Sahtu has faced a very dramatic summer, starting with the cancellation of the marine river barging services and the concerning wildfires in Fort Good Hope, plus the evacuation.
Mr. Speaker, this issue or situation has created a large negative chain reaction of stress on projects, resupply, household food security, summer public infrastructure preparations for O and M, school supplies, and essential services. Most critically, it has impacted the availability of home and commercial heating fuel.
Mr. Speaker, the whole issue of essential resupply is far from resolved. Most recently, the Sahtu has seen outrageous, soaring prices in both bulk and retail stations. This crisis situation has become so dire that a month's salary will not cover the cost of one home's heating fuel tank fill up.
Mr. Speaker, the consequences of unaffordable costs are severe. Mr. Speaker, this threatens our residents' ability to continue residing in the region. I remind the Assembly that the Government of the Northwest Territories has 172 employees in Norman Wells and 150 in the surrounding communities. Mr. Speaker, we must move swiftly and decisively to address the crisis and, more importantly, support a physical model in the reduction of fuel costs back to pre-shipping dates by eliminating the air transportation costs with stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, in closing the Sahtu petroleum products supply consists of four surrounding communities owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories, and Norman Wells is supplied privately by Imperial Oil limited. This private sector -- Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Mahsi, colleagues. This private sector supply is in and currently being resupplied at the air transportation costs burden to our citizens. It is the people -- it is the people are victims of poor planning? Good questions. Later I will have questions for the Minister of Finance. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member from the Sahtu. Members' statements. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
