Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to raise an issue with regard to the Sachs Harbour water plant upgrade. In the summer of 2004, the Department of Public Works and Services contracted out the water plant upgrade in Sachs Harbour. Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Sachs Harbour, on numerous occasions, complained of problems with the pipeline freezing up over the 2004-2005 season, thereby the employees having to drill a hole in the lake to withdraw water for the community.
Mr. Speaker, this may have been okay in the 1970s and '80s, but here we are in 2006 where the hamlet employees once again have to drill holes to withdraw their water.
Mr. Speaker, I received notice on Monday, February 6, 2006, that the water intake, once again, froze on January 30, 2006. The hamlet has been more than patient since the upgrade started in December of 2004. On my recent trip to Sachs Harbour, January 9th to 12th, and on my subsequent return to Yellowknife, I spoke briefly with the Minister of Public Works and Services about the problems the hamlet was encountering with regard to the water treatment plant and the freezing of the intake pipeline.
Mr. Speaker, knowing that there were freezing problems over the winter of 2004-2005, and the department having to travel to Sachs Harbour on numerous occasions to identify the specific problem, what initiatives to date has the department taken to rectify the problem? Mr. Speaker, we are in early 2006 and the problem of freezing has already been encountered in the water intake. When will the department, once again, once and for all, fix the water intake problem? At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause