Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there was a meeting held earlier this morning with the mayor of Fort McPherson, Mr. William Koe; acting SAO, Mr. Don Smith; the honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs; and also, the honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Public Works and Services in regard to the extraordinary circumstances that Fort McPherson finds themselves in with the contaminated water supply and the increasing costs associated with it.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to let the Members know that when the cost of maintaining a service jumps from $220,000 to $400,000 that impact could be greatly felt by the people in the communities, especially in the case of Fort McPherson where you have contamination of the water with a product known as THMs. The water is not suited for human consumption and people are depending on bottled water.
Mr. Speaker, the outcome of the meeting was not too satisfactory because we did not really get an answer. I feel that this government does have an obligation to the health and well-being of all residents of the Northwest Territories, especially with the circumstances that we find ourselves in Fort McPherson.
Mr. Speaker, there is an agreement in place, one that I believe most provinces and the territories probably have, for the Department of Public Works to operate the water and sewage systems. There is a water and service operation agreement between the municipality and the Government of the Northwest Territories, in particular, the Department of Public Works and Services.
Mr. Speaker, one of the items which is clear in that agreement states that:
"it is further agreed that the committee, complete with representation of the Municipality of Fort McPherson, the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Public Works, and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs shall meet twice a year on or about the first of April and again on or about October 1st of that particular year to review the expenditures that have occurred in the operating of the water and sewage distribution and removal systems within a six month period".
Mr. Speaker, that has never happened, and we find ourselves in a deficit situation.