Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the past two days, I have been bringing to the attention of this house medical problems being experienced in Tuktoyaktuk by the residents. Mr. Speaker, I would like to expand a little more on that and I take this opportunity to do so. Mr. Speaker, the community is experiencing major outbreaks of contagious diseases such as rashes on their arms and legs of school children. As well, the children are experiencing an outbreak of fever blisters in their mouths. As a result, this has served to put an extra workload on the two remaining nurses in Tuktoyaktuk. As well, Mr. Speaker, we have confirmed a meningitis case in Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, the hamlet council believes these outbreaks of these contagious diseases are directly related to the reduction of the water subsidy program administered by MACA. A reduction of 30 percent for the community of Tuktoyaktuk, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, over the last three years, the hamlet council has unsuccessfully lobbied MACA to have this subsidy increased for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. The hamlet council still cannot understand the logic behind the subsidy program, which allows a person in a large centre, such as Inuvik or Yellowknife the luxury of 190 litres of water per person per day, while small outlying communities are limited to 90 litres of water per person per day. Later on today, Mr. Speaker, I will be questioning the Minister of MACA on this particular item. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.