Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to the transportation and storage of ammonium nitrate in and through the community of Enterprise.

Mr. Speaker, this issue has been raised in the House before by Keelen Simpson, who was representing Hay River South during the Youth Parliament. She certainly demonstrated the importance that this issue has to all ages to the people in the North.

Ammonium nitrate is normally used as a chemical blasting agent, but it is also used as fertilizer. By itself, it is not dangerous but it can be detonated under high heat, confinement or severe shock. For example, if ammonium nitrate is mixed with diesel fuel and ignited, this can result in an explosion.

Mr. Speaker, any time there are dangerous goods being transported or stored within a community, the community council should be notified well in advance -- no exceptions. At the very least, the local fire department should be notified.

How dangerous is ammonium nitrate? It was a key part in a bomb used to destroy the federal government building in Oklahoma City in 1995, killing 168 people and wounding hundreds of others. How much ammonium nitrate was used? Less than two-and-a-half tons. Many times this amount is being transported on just one truck. These trucks, Mr. Speaker, frequently travel through or stop in the communities in my riding.

I have discussed this issue with the government on many occasions. However, they always explain that under our Dangerous Goods Act, it is not required to consult with the community, as the government does not consider ammonium nitrate to be a dangerous good.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the highway patrol officers are charged to monitor dangerous goods that are being transported on the highway system. However, we have to ask ourselves who is monitoring the storage and the handling of these chemicals when they are in our communities without our knowledge and without our permission?

Mr. Speaker, given the potential dangers of ammonium nitrate, I find the government's position on this matter very distressing. Clearly when proper procedures are not established to adequately notify communities, we have a disaster in the making. We must take action now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause