Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Travelling by vehicle on NWT highways is a common experience for most northern residents. Seasonal driving conditions on all NWT highways vary from excellent to treacherous. Driving safely and consciously with extra vigilance is a must for travellers on NWT highways.

Last week a constituent of mine experienced a near tragic situation. The vehicle in which they were driving hit a patch of black ice and went off the road and ended up in the ditch. Luckily for the driver, a Good Samaritan happened on the incident and stopped to check on the vehicle, then walked off the road and discovered the driver nearly frozen and trapped in the vehicle. The driver was stuck in the vehicle, covered with snow, as both sides of the vehicles’ windows were busted open and snow packed inside the vehicle entrapping the driver. The single occupant of the vehicle, about that time, was stuck in the vehicle for about two and a half hours.

The Good Samaritan was Kelly Pierce of Hay River, who was driving to Yellowknife that day and discovered the driver and helped, a selfless act in saving a person’s life. The driver that was stuck in the vehicle recalls hearing about a dozen vehicles pass her. When the driver was taken to the Fort Providence Health Centre, the nurses stated that if the driver stayed for about another hour or more, the driver’s body temperature would have reached a critical point of hypothermia.

At this time, I remind all drivers to drive safely and I strongly encourage them to stop and help those that need help.

I would like to especially recognize Mr. Kelly Pierce, the Good Samaritan that stopped and helped the constituent; Dr. Martell of Fort Simpson; the nurse in charge, Carol Bergeron; Patty Bedard and Maame Ya, the nurses that assisted the constituent. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.