Mr. Speaker, I do thank the Member for drawing to my attention the financial problems currently facing his community and also his explanation to me that these financial problems, in addition to the accumulated deficit, also flow from problems with the discharge of ground water into the sewage system, for which the hamlet has had to bear financial responsibility.

Mr. Speaker, as to the ground water problem, the extra cost that the hamlet has incurred this year, I have asked the department to look into that problem. They are at the moment discussing these problems with the agencies and departments of the government whose works have contributed to this problem. As of today, I have no results to report to the Member... so we will be looking for a short-term solution to that issue this year.

The long-term solution recommended to the hamlet, Mr. Speaker, is that they should enact a by-law within the authority of section 81 of the Hamlets Act, to either regulate or prohibit discharge of substances and liquids, including ground water, into a sewage or drainage system. That would prevent disputes of this kind in future as to who is and who is not responsible for discharge of ground water into the sewage system. Thank you.