Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated earlier, I wish to make an emergency statement and my question will be directed to the Premier since the Minister of Transportation is not here.

There is a serious emergency situation in Grise Fiord. The ice conditions are the worst in living memory. There is a stretch of 60 miles of heavy packed ice which has prevented the cargo ship, carrying goods for the hamlet, the Housing Association and the Co-op from reaching the community.

This ship is currently in Pond Inlet and will be returning to Montreal as it cannot even try to return to Resolute Bay because of the bad ice there as well.

The Canadian Coast Guard ice-breakers have tried to assist, travelling from the Kitikmeot but the ice is now so bad that they cannot help and will have to return to their base in BC via the Panama Canal.

The plan is to return the goods to Montreal and attempt the following:

1) Use food mail via aircraft for goods that qualify.

2) Ship other goods by truck to Yellowknife and fly it to Resolute Bay and Grise Fiord, items that will fit in the plane.

3) Store all other good until next year.

Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier is whether this government would have any emergency resources to assist in flying in goods to Grise Fiord as the Co-op is the only store in town and their only source of food, clothing, and dry goods?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.