Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back. Mr. Speaker, the issue of Trihalomethanes, better known as THMs, is again receiving attention on newscasts across North America, THMs are formed when chlorine combines with organic matter in the water supply. Mr. Speaker, water problems are not new in my constituency. There are water problems in Aklavik with regard to H. pylori and also in the community of Tsiigehtchic where colour and odour are a major problem. Mr. Speaker, the community of Fort McPherson is one of the communities that has had a major outbreak with THMs in its water supply.
It has been known for some time, Mr. Speaker, that THMs in drinking water can lead to higher rates of bladder and colon cancer, and they are also associated with miscarriages and low birth rates. Recent studies have shown that exposure can also come from breathing water vapour and also by exposing your skin through bathing and showering in this water.
Mr. Speaker, this government needs to take proactive measures to reduce the levels of THMs in the drinking water of our communities. This government must take steps to ensure public confidence and public awareness of the potential harm that THMs can cause. This government must educate the public about the importance of personal water filtering systems and other methods of lessening THM levels, not only in our treatment facilities, but also in our homes and in the means of transporting water in our systems.
Mr. Speaker, water is an important component in our daily lives. Yet, Mr. Speaker, this natural resource in the NWT is not immune from THMs, as elsewhere in Canada. Responding to this, the government must ensure the water is safe to drink and to bathe in. This great injustice cannot be done to our citizens of the NWT when the questions are unknown and the effects are comparable to what we see in southern Canada. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.