Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d

like to talk about the effects of climate change and the effects on our communities; especially the community of Tsiigehtchic, who have seen, over the last couple of years, some major erosion by way of ground movement. The church in Tsiigehtchic, which is usually a poster of the community, and more importantly the threat to its local gravesite. Now the residents of Tsiigehtchic are stating that their homes are now being threatened by movement of the ground. Tsiigehtchic sits on a hill and now we are seeing the ground starting to move. Also a lot of the construction of our houses were built on permafrost. With the global warming and the effects that we’re seeing by way of erosion and ground movement is a direct implication of climate change. I noted the Minister of Environment in his highlights stated that there is a draft NWT Climate Change Adaption Plan they are hoping to release in the near future to address problems concerning climate change. It’s too late. It’s already here. We’re already seeing the effects in our communities. We are seeing the effects on our highways. More importantly, our communities are now being threatened.

In an in-depth report which was done on the impacts of climate change, the estimate is $400 million in regards to the effects it will have on the public infrastructure throughout the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. I think as a government we have to realize that we are already seeing the effects, especially in the community of Tsiigehtchic where people are now asking the Housing Corporation for assistance to possibly move their homes away from the banks, away from where the areas are being eroded, but, more importantly, to deliver programs and services within this government which can assist people when this threat is occurring. I think it’s important that government not only looks at putting out a plan, but make clear changes to the programs and services that we do deliver such as the program which was delivered a number of years ago because of the threats of public infrastructure in Inuvik in regard to pilings. I think we have to start looking at those type of programs and services regarding programs delivered by the department, Housing Corporation, or other programs and services to combat this problem, which is real, which is affecting communities and residents of the Northwest Territories. With that I will be asking the Minister of Housing questions on this matter later.