Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Today I spoke on my Member's statement about telephones, in my language. I represent the three communities of Jean Marie River, Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte. For a number of years now they have one pay phone type of system that NorthwesTel installed. I understand that it's the same situation in Kakisa Lake. I also mentioned Bay Chimo and Bathurst Inlet. My honourable colleague's, Mr. Ng's, riding doesn't have any telephone services.
But in my communities, for many years we've been asking for more services. People have been asking for their own private lines in their houses. The band office, the community government want faxes. These communities don't have any regular airline services, so whenever your government writes to them, it may take a week or two before they get their letter and things get pretty slowed down then. I've also received letters from teachers and CECs and the divisional board of education to improve the telephone services. We're told that there's a new communication system for all NWT schools to be able to use computers to send messages to each other, and that's impossible in these small communities.
The CRTC decision in December said there was supposed to be a plan by June 20 to provide services to all these communities. I just wanted to ask the Minister if he's aware of that. Is the plan to provide full services to these communities by June 20, or is it a plan that they're going to provide to CRTC by June 20 with a plan for the future years?
I understand that the communities have been asking for an immediate increase in the telephone service. I would just like to know from the Minister if that's the case. Thank you.