Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on June 2, 2004, regarding the Tulita water treatment facility.

Mr. Yakeleya asked what are the plans to finally resolve the concerns regarding the water treatment facility at Tulita.

During construction and early on in the operation of the water treatment facility, there were some problems. However, the department has been advised that the operational problems encountered when the facility first went into production were minor and have been rectified. At this time, Municipal and Community Affairs staff have not been advised of any outstanding technical or operational problems with the water treatment facility at Tulita.

Mr. Yakeleya also asked what steps the minister will taken to ensure that the people of Tulita will enjoy safe and secure water treatment facilities.

The Tulita water treatment plant was commissioned in 2003 and contains sate-of-the-art water treatment and filtration equipment. The facility is operated and maintained by fully certified and trained personnel, and the water is tested regularly to ensure that the quality remains within the parameters established under the guidelines for Canadian drinking water quality.

Finally, Mr. Yakeleya asked what the timelines were for resolving the water treatment facility concerns that have been expressed by the people of Tulita.

Mr. Speaker, the department is not aware of any further operational problems that the residents of Tulita have expressed, other than those raised when the facility was first commissioned. There is a small problem with the colour of the water caused by the annual spring runoff, and I am advised that this occurs each spring for a brief period. The colour of the water is affected, but the quality of the water during the annual spring runoff remains within the guidelines during this brief period. There is a land-related issue associated with the water treatment facility and, as a first step, Municipal and Community Affairs staff arranged for the parcel that the facility is situation on to be surveyed this past summer. The next step will be for Municipal and Community Affairs staff to meet with the hamlet to discuss the turnover of the facility to the hamlet in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.