Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to speak about the ice crossing at Fort Providence. Mr. Speaker, as a resident of and the MLA for Fort Providence, I have an understanding of what this ice bridge means to the economy of the North and to the people I represent.

We were extremely lucky there was not a major environmental catastrophe with the recent incident of the fuel-transport truck breaking through the ice. We all know the truck should not have been on the ice crossing, as there was a weight restriction. I also know the long hours and the hard work the highways department and their contractors put into getting the crossing ready for heavy traffic. They worked 16-hour days getting the crossing ready, and deserve our appreciation.

However, people have to sleep, Mr. Speaker. They cannot be there all of the time. That is why there was no one there to prevent the truck from crossing. Mr. Speaker, this incident made me think of the strains the vast increase of heavy transport traffic due to increased mineral activity must be placing on the ice crossing. I know from personal observation the first reaction of drivers who have never been on an ice road is to close their eyes and drive as fast as they can until they reach terra firma.

We all know the strain this places on the approaches. We all know this shortens the seasons. The reality is the transport companies have to hire drivers who have northern experience to meet the tight deadlines the short ice road season imposes.

Mr. Speaker, from what I understand, the trucking companies and the ice road builders north of Yellowknife do a good job ensuring no one drives too fast on the ice road. If you show up too early at your destination, you get fired. It is very simple and probably very effective.

However, Mr. Speaker, there is no such enforcement at the ice crossing in Fort Providence. The highway patrol passes through on their regular patrols, but there is no regular presence to deter speeders or monitor the crossing. I believe this must change.

The situation is getting worse as more mineral properties move into the construction and production phases of their operations. The ice crossings going north from Yellowknife are useless if the ice crossing at Fort Providence has to be shut down early because the approaches are blown. We need an enforcement presence to ensure this does not happen.

I have engineering and policing concerns regarding the ice crossing at Fort Providence that I will be following up with the Minister responsible for Transportation during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.