Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was debating whether I should raise this issue -- it is an issue about the community hall in Fort Liard -- because I had talked about it in the past, but I would like to give the new Minister of MACA the opportunity to hear it from that side of the House, because the last time I did it he was on this side of the House.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, the community hall in Fort Liard was built in the mid-1970s, indicating at least 20 years of usage. The log community hall was possible at that time by accessing funds available under the Canada works projects. Mr. Speaker, over the years, this hall has been home to numerous events of the community such as feasts and drum dances, and public functions such as court proceedings and public hearings, and other activities that bring the community together for one reason or another that benefits the community.

As a result of its usage and the lack of an infrastructure program in place at the time, the community hall has been allowed to become dilapidated over the years. Mr. Speaker, the community hall has served its purpose well, however, major structural repair is required; emergency retrofit. The degree of repair is beyond economic common sense. As a result, Mr. Speaker, the community hall is being unused and sits as a reminder to the people of Fort Liard that the process involving the benefiting from a new community hall is once again left in the hands of officials in Yellowknife, which is quite a way from Fort Liard.

If an effective evaluation program was implemented by the necessary department where community consultations are seriously considered, Fort Liard could conceivably be enjoying the benefits of a community hall today. However, this is not the case. In fact, they have made arrangements, such as holding court proceedings in the airport hangar, which have become a sign of the times.

According to the government, Mr. Speaker, it officially recognizes the Fort Liard community hall by endorsing a health inspector's report in a letter addressed to me in October of last year, and I quote, "recommending the community hall be closed because of safety concerns." And, "the building has extensive structural damage, and renovations to bring it up to suitable standards would probably be extremely costly."

Mr. Speaker, I am running out of time. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.