Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague indicated, today is a beautiful day. It’s

nice and pink out there, but I’d also like to talk about the days getting longer and spring is around the corner.

Often in the North that’s an exciting time, but one of the difficulties that we have in Hay River is this brings on the discussion of breakup. One of the issues that we have in Hay River is an annual breakup and the Hay River has been filling in, getting silted up and for years now, since the late ‘80s, early ‘90s, they’ve quit doing the dredging in the Hay River area.

I’ve brought to this House, a few times, the dredging issue. In the springtime the residents of Hay River, often the ones that live in Vale Island, are very concerned and very nervous. They have to consider what they’re going to do come late April when the river breaks up and the potential for a flood happens.

The residents there have to consider whether they want to stay there or are they going to move. I know some that move away for two weeks with their families into the higher areas of the community. Every year this is an issue and we need to do something about the dredging.

Today I will have some questions for the Minister of Transportation on dredging. We’ve talked about some of the issues, now we need to put some dollars to this great difficulty in Hay River.

I will keep bringing this issue to this House for the residents that live in the Hay River area. As well, I will keep bringing this issue to this House for the industry, for the fishing industry, for transportation. Dredging is required in Hay River. The Hay River is blocking off and our residents and our industry are being affected. Thank you.