Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We certainly agree with the comments that were made by the Members.
The issue of pilings has been something that has proven to be very expensive in the last while, as we've experienced change in our climate. We're starting to see a lot of our buildings in the northern end of our territory having problems with pilings. It has forced us to do a lot of work to rectify the situation and look at different ways to try to avoid using the wood pilings that have been causing us problems.
The comments about fuel being expensive, and concern about the supply this winter is certainly a real one. I'm happy to say, though, through our PPD we were able to have all the fuel delivered to our communities through one form or another. Unfortunately for the community of Good Hope, we had to bring the fuel in by air, because our supplier was not able to have it delivered there. Nonetheless, there was a contract put in place, and they honoured it.
We have really been trying hard to move away from providing all the operation of water plants over the last several years. We have, for the most part, been fairly successful. I think there are only about three or four communities now that require our assistance to operate the plants, and more so just to provide some of the maintenance and provide the support.
We continue to look at putting out a system that would have water plants fairly consistent in terms of them being designed and built the same, so that we can have people in the communities that can go from one community to another should there be a shortfall in staff.
I also, of course, have to agree with the Member for Mackenzie Delta that we have to explore other avenues for alternative energy, as the communities are very challenged at this point to deal with the high cost of living, and that includes power and heating fuel. The Over the Top route has allowed us to find a cheaper supply. It is less handling, as the Member indicated. Through the Alberta system there is a lot of shifting and moving of the product. Over the Top would require us to bring in a tanker — I think this year it’s coming from California. We’ll have it brought into the Mackenzie Delta. It’ll service the communities right up to Norman Wells if there is a desire for them to do that.
We have a committee that is looking at options of how we can deal with some of the energy challenges we have in our system and in our
communities. We have provided suggestions to them to investigate regarding energy and energy management to our communities and in our facilities. Those things, hopefully, will prove to be successful at finding some sort of alternate energy systems.