Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dare I say it, Mr. Speaker? It seems that spring is coming to our land. The sun is back, and we will soon see melt water at the ends of the ice crossing between the town of Hay River and the reserve. The people of the K'atlodeeche First Nation love the spring, but the closing of the ice crossing over the Hay River is very inconvenient for them. Unfortunately, people will soon be dodging the pockmarks and potholes that riddle the chip seal of the all-season access road linking the reserve to the highway and into Hay River. Last fall, the access road was at its worst. There are drainage problems in addition to the cracks and potholes. People do slow down, but the fact is that too many surface hazards compromise the safety of the road.

Mr. Speaker, residents complained to me and to the chief and council that the road was so bad that it was causing damage to their vehicles. I have raised this issue with the Minister of Infrastructure before and remember that there were plans to repair and resurface the road. There was a rare time when I was glad to see a sign "road work ahead." Now that it is almost spring, I am full of optimism that the actual road work is not far ahead. I know that the Minister must regularly drive the access road between Hay River and the reserve and probably feels a burning desire to see the job done in the upcoming construction season. I'm also optimistic that, in the time that has passed, the Minister has been able to work out many issues with the Government of Canada, but who is responsible for what in maintaining the access road?

Mr. Speaker, you can tell the spring sunshine is getting to me and perhaps all the time we've spend indoors lately. I'm dying to get out there, so I'll make the Minister of Infrastructure a rare offer. Short of putting me on a big machine or handing me a shovel, I'm here to help, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps you will spend some quality time with me fixing the road access to the Hay River reserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.