Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, summer is here at last. The summer brings many enjoyable things: warmer weather, longer days, summer holidays, time out on the land with the family. Unfortunately, the summer season also has a downside: terrible dust in the Sahtu communities. It is not the first time that this problem in the communities has been raised in the House.
It was a real concern for some of the Members during the 14th Assembly, and for good reason. Dust is a serious health concern. No one is immune to the negative effects of breathing dust. Mr. Speaker, the elders in our communities suffer the most. I receive many telephone calls from the constituents in Tulita asking me if I can do something to improve the situation. The majority of them are elders. In 2003, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Transportation began work on chipsealing main streets in the non-taxed-based communities. I applaud the department for the work they have done so far. Chipsealing really makes a difference in the quality of life in the communities in the summer.
In March of this year, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs sent a letter to all Members informing us of this government's implementation schedule for chipsealing on main streets in the non-taxed-based communities. I am very disappointed, however, to note that in Tulita this is not scheduled to begin until 2007, at which time the road begins to assess a design process. At this rate, it will be 2010 before the elders in Tulita can breathe easier during the summer months.
Mr. Speaker, the dust situation in Tulita is a present problem that has to be dealt with immediately. Twenty years ago, there were only four or five vehicles in these communities. However, highway access has changed this. Now, over 60 vehicles come up and down the roads easily and daily in the streets of Tulita, raising dust and severely interfering with the health of some of the elders of communities who live close to the roads. I do not want to tell the elders of Tulita that they must suffer another six years or more before something will be done to alleviate the dust problem. I will have questions for the Minister later on. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause