Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member's statement today will be about municipal services. Many of the Nunakput communities are in need of gravel for maintenance of roads, driveways and new pads for further development. Mr. Speaker, gravel sources are only accessible during the winter months mainly because of the distance and the sensitivity of our terrain. Mr. Speaker, during the Minister's visit last summer and a recent meeting I had with the Tuktoyaktuk Community Planning Committee, it was made quite clear that the communities in Nunakput require gravel for future development.

Mr. Speaker, the Cabinet and the deputy minister should consider the needs of communities outside of the urban centres. The need for gravel for roads, water and sewer infrastructures and landfills is vital for the communities. This government should work with the Inuvialuit Land Administration, ILA, to identify gravel sources in close proximity to the communities of Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Holman and Tuktoyaktuk. This government should immediately commence dialogue with ILA before the proposed construction of the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, if this government does not address this problem immediately, access to close gravel sources will be identified by the industry for their infrastructure needs, and the communities will lose out. Mr. Speaker, therefore, I urge this government to immediately allocate funds for the hamlets of Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Holman and

Tuktoyaktuk for access to gravel sources so they can plan for today and future developments in their respective communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause