The amount of assistance needed to avoid this emergency surcharge is about $80,000. In October, Mr. Speaker, another emergency was declared in High Arctic. This was also a problem which was no one's fault. It, too, was a reality of life in the high arctic. A third bad fall season was threatening the existence of caribou, unique to our part of the world. This government worked efficiently and quickly with the federal government and Canadian Armed Forces to put into effect a rescue mission to capture and transport 20 to 25 pairs of caribou to a facility in southern Alberta.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to explain, not to criticize it. Rather I see this as an excellent example of the government working well and cooperatively to create speed and accomplish something important. There was a sense of urgency. My concern is that the one emergency resulted in well organized and urgently implemented effort to correct a problem. It was also very well publicized.
The other emergency also in my constituency has become just another bureaucratic exercise. With issue papers and efforts by the government departments to force the Co-op to provide needed assistance - rather than taking the lead making suggestions and actively assisting in solving the problem, we are constantly talking of making cuts, saving money, living within our means. We can budget $100 thousand to preserve a caribou species from possible extinction. We can spend, perhaps, one third of that to do this. Yet this government cannot quickly solve the question of getting annual food and supply needs of the community of Grise Fiord to the location.
It will take three departments, considerable staff and weeks of discussion to decide how to minimize the government assistance. This should have taken two people two weeks to work a helpful and constructive solution. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the appropriate minister for a clear explanation of this situation for the quick, efficient and fair solution to the other emergency in the high arctic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause