Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everyone back to the Assembly for our spring session.
Mr. Speaker, one of the communities in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta, Fort McPherson, is situated right along the Peel River. The Peel River ice reports state that the ice first started moving on Monday of last week and was clear last Thursday. The ice conditions in Tsiigehtchic reports say that the Red River is clear, the Mackenzie ice is thinning, and the water levels are quite low.
At the end of April, both ice crossings on the Peel and Mackenzie Rivers closed for the season. I have been on record stating that the extreme cost of food, gas, heating, and fuel increases with isolation.
Mr. Speaker, our people suffer with the high cost of food. Hunters who want to gather ducks and geese have to burden the high cost of gasoline. Although the warm weather is upon us, there are days when we still need to adjust our furnace thermostats to keep our homes heated. Also, one of our businesses in Fort McPherson is out of gasoline due to the ice conditions this spring.
Mr. Speaker, with the Peel River clear of ice and debris, community members are excited that the Abraham Francis ferry will be launched in the Peel sooner than later.
The Mackenzie River also connects to the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, and it is important to note that, last summer, we had record numbers of tourists to the region. The faster we get both ferries operational, food prices will decrease and tourists will take advantage of the early season and come north.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions later today.