Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as today's theme is on water and water quality, I would like to make my comments about Canada's longest river and the main source of good, clean drinking water for the many people who live in the Deh Cho region. My comments today are regarding concerns about the Deh Cho.

Mr. Speaker, over the years I have watched and listened as many people have discussed how this river could be harnessed, how it could be controlled, how we can make money off it. I have also listened as many people have complained as they view this river as an obstacle to their trips south. The residents of the Deh Cho are becoming increasingly concerned about this government's ability to act as the guardian of this river. Every year we watch as the Merv Hardie ferry busts its way through the ice like an icebreaker, something it was never designed to do. All it would take is one mistake, one misjudgment, and there could be serious ecological consequences.

We are also concerned, Mr. Speaker, about the ice crossing at Fort Providence. Everyone here recalls the near disaster that occurred last year when a fuel tanker truck went through the ice bridge before it was ready. We got lucky that time, Mr. Speaker, but will we be as lucky the next time? Who can say? What would happen should a truck loaded with dangerous chemicals fall through the ice? Is there a disaster plan in place to deal with that?

We are all very concerned because downstream from the ferry and ice crossing is the water intake for the community of Fort Providence.

When the tanker truck went through the ice last winter, I questioned the Minister of Transportation on what preventive measures the department had in place to ensure that this type of incident would not occur again. I questioned the Minister on the need for an increased highway patrol presence to ensure that large trucks do not use the crossing before it was ready to handle the weight. Mr. Speaker, I have not noticed any increase in the highway patrol presence around the community of Fort Providence or the ice crossing.

I do know, Mr. Speaker, that the demands placed on the ice crossing by the needs of the mining industry has meant that the ice crossing was open to heavy traffic as soon as the ice had reached its minimum thickness for full loads. Obviously, Mr. Speaker, there is a need for a permanent bridge.