Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my colleagues. When parents move, so do their children. Fifty percent of the population of Northland is children in school. Consider the negative impact on school budgets and school district staff when those children move out.
Along with school district revenues decreasing, the City of Yellowknife will see a $400,000 drop in their tax revenue. More jobs lost, more services cut.
Mr. Speaker, the scope of the problem at Northland extends far beyond just the replacement of the water and sewer infrastructure. It’s an extraordinary situation but it’s an emergency situation. This government can be proactive and help with the problem now or sit back, do nothing, and deal with the much larger problem when it arises, when the systems fail and the Northland neighbourhood is condemned.
Cooperation and coordination are needed to tackle this urgent issue and prevent the 1,100 Northland residents from becoming homeless. Is the GNWT up to that challenge? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.