Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In February 2018, a former Member, Wally Schumann, Minister of Infrastructure at the time, gave a statement of planned improvements, he said, in airport runways across the territory. There are many studies that have been done across the NWT for subsurface and drainage problems that we have in our small communities. Mr. Speaker, Sachs Harbour has a problem. We cannot land King Air 350s for medevac service. The only planes that can come in are Twin Otters now, with tundra tires, because of the saturation in the airport runway. I worry for my constituents. The Minister pointed out that day that the work was going to be done, and it still has not been done.
In February this year, Mr. Speaker, the current Minister of Infrastructure gave an update to airports which pointed out GNWT's intention to fix the airport drainage problem in Sachs Harbour. Minister Nokleby pointed out that many communities across the North have essential services to this region and maintenance and improvement activities are particularly important to ensure effective travel. "This work," she noted, "will increase the resiliency of these airports to the effects of climate change."
Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister today is simple: why hasn't the work been done? When is it going to get done? Let me know why.
Mr. Speaker, why is it so important? Last week, I had spoken with our Aklak Air local carrier that flies into the community. It's costing them $58,000 to bring in a Twin Otter with tundra tires, with an aircrew, per month on them, when our government is supposed to be giving a runway that is accepting to land any aircraft. By the government's own admission, maintenance and work is essential to operations in the airfield. I am concerned. The safety of my constituents is a priority: no medevac planes. When are you going to get your mail? When are you going to get your food in regard to it because Aklak Air does not have a Twin Otter right now? What is happening? I don't know. I am waiting for a call from the president of Aklak Air.
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned, as MLA for Nunakput, hearing about this problem and prefer my constituents, being advised by the Minister's problems or delays. I want to remind the Minister in the House for keeping Regular MLAs informed in ongoing projects in our constituencies. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, sir.