Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, similar to a majority of other communities with trucked water service, Coppermine's fresh water is drawn from a fresh water source -- in their case, near the mouth of the Coppermine River -- into a water treatment centre and stored until water trucks receive the water and deliver it to households and businesses throughout the community.

Over the past several years, the contamination of the fresh water supply has taken place as a result of silt and sediment infiltration and salt water intrusion. The reasons for the contamination have been attributed to faulty salt water detection monitoring equipment, low water levels in the Coppermine River, high tides, strong northerly winds, clogged intake line filters and various other reasons. The obvious reason for the annual contamination problem is poor location of the water intake treatment facility.

Madam Speaker, this year has been the worst ever, to the recollection of Coppermine residents, for salt water contamination. The community has endured salt water contamination regularly since early August. The hamlet council and I have addressed this issue to the government, only to be reassured that alternative water resupply avenues were established through a contingency plan to be used during extended periods of salt water intrusion, to ensure that the community has access to potable water at all times.

Madam Speaker, the contingency plan is not working. Over the last two full days the community residents of Coppermine have gone without water deliver as, once again, the high tides and low water levels have shut down the fresh water system in Coppermine. At 9:00 am this morning the water supply system was reactivated and, once again, there was fresh water available at the intake source. However, this may only be a temporary occurrence as tides and wind conditions may once again lead to the closure of the water supply system, if not today, in the immediate future.

In recognizing the water supply problem, MACA in previous years, had scheduled major water supply improvements to the community of Coppermine for 1995-96. However, in this year's capital estimates, the water supply improvements have been pushed back to 1996-97.

Madam Speaker, my time is up. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.