Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs is the territorial leader in emergency planning.

Each community is responsible for developing its own emergency plan, one to help them deal with things like forest fire evacuations, community-wide power outages, and more, but MACA is always there to help.

I am glad to hear that, Mr. Speaker, because emergency planning is on people's minds in the Mackenzie Delta. The recent windstorm and multiday power outage in Paulatuk really drove home how easy it can be to fall prey to natural forces. Residents also remember, in 2004, when fire destroyed the Fort McPherson power plant, leaving residents in the cold, in minus 25 degrees below zero, to be specific.

At recent constituency meetings in each of my communities, residents brought me their concerns on these matters. They also brought forward their ideas for improvements. Residents would like to see schools equipped with back-up generators, so that communities have guaranteed warming centres. They are also seeking assurance from the Housing Corporation that plans are in place to prevent pipes from freezing in public housing units and private homes, as well.

For example, when the Fort McPherson power plant was destroyed, many residents stayed warm by visiting friends and family members whose homes were heated by woodstoves. An inventory of woodfire-fuelled homes could also be a valuable asset. All of these issues could be addressed in well-developed, up-to-date community emergency plans. Such plans could also help communities plan for a wide range of potential emergencies, not only cold-weather crises. I would like to engage the Minister to help my communities take the necessary next steps to develop or update their emergency plans. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions later today.