Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there have been public announcements in the paper that the Rae Lakes winter road will be closed on March 15th. Today is March 2nd and the road is not expected to open for another five days. At best, the winter road to Rae Lakes will be open for eight days. More likely, if it opens at all, it will only be for three or four days.

Communities are highly dependent on winter roads. For example, Rae Lakes is going to build a community office complex and all the materials are waiting to be sent up on the winter road. Unless the roof trusses are brought in on the ice road, the project will be delayed for another year. There is no plane big enough to carry the trusses for this complex. As well as the construction materials for the office complex, three houses, fuel and a large quantity of groceries are also to be sent up on the road.

Traditionally, the winter road to Rae Lakes has opened by the end of January and stayed open for six weeks. This has allowed enough time to bring in a substantial amount of goods. Weather patterns are changing and the lack of this valuable transportation route has serious economic and social implications for the community of Rae Lakes. As I have stated many times, we need to adapt to the changing weather conditions. We can no longer rely on winter roads. In this situation, we can be proactive, and for the short term, develop an all-land winter road to Wha Ti and Rae Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause