Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to make a few comments about the Fort Providence request for a swimming pool. Mr. Speaker, for many years we have had problems with the pool in Fort Providence. We have gotten away with patches and repairs, but two years ago there was an analysis done on the building and the building was condemned due to structural and foundation problems. I don't think anybody was surprised, Mr. Speaker. The pool was built 28 years ago and at that time it was a second-hand pool brought in from another community.

Throughout the life of this facility it was the most used recreation facility in the community. When the pool closed last year it became a major concern for the residents of Fort Providence because the children were forced to swim in the Mackenzie River. Since that time I was approached probably by every group and every government body in the community, the hamlet, the band, the Metis. By parents concerned for their children. By elders with concern for their grandchildren. From the youth of the school that petitioned probably every gathering with signs and a message that they needed a safe place to swim.

Given our location and the speed of the river and the current and the number of drownings in the river over the years, the need for a pool in Fort Providence is very real. I was very happy and very relieved when the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs heard our pleas and responded by including a pool in the capital plan for this year.

All the while, the community has been working on raising funds to try to build a pool in the event that we could not get any government funding or if we did obtain some funding from the government we would use that money to upgrade the pool. Some of the ideas we were tossing around to upgrade the pool would be the addition of a wading pool or a steam room for the seniors, because that is a request that the seniors put in. We also wanted to put in a heating system to extend the season from May to October.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.