Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, winter is late coming this year but it is here. The lakes and rivers are finally freezing. People from some of my communities value being able to access cheaper goods and services, having their fuel resupplied and also housing packages and construction supplies to be brought into their communities through the use of winter roads.
The communities of Wha Ti and Gameti know that every year a winter road will be built into their communities. In contrast, residents from Wekweti never know from year to year whether or not they will have a winter road. Without a winter road, the people of Wekweti must rely on air transportation for their basic goods and services.
This dependence on air transportation has created a community with an unusually high cost of living. Two litres of milk costs $7.50, bread costs $2.85 and canned goods and meat are very expensive due to their weight when being freighted. Furthermore, of the 17 communities serviced across the Northwest Territories by the government, Wekweti pays the highest prices for home heating fuel and gasoline.
Ensuring that Wekweti receives a winter road each year would significantly reduce the high costs associated with living in the community. At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Transportation about this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.