Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu winter road season is critical to the region's resupply. Trucking schedules must be maintained. More importantly, the winter road itself must be supported by sufficient resources for efficiencies, trucking turnarounds, etcetera.

Mr. Speaker, the original truckload estimates destined for the Sahtu were in the neighbourhood of 1,000 loads. This includes essential supplies such as fuel products, not only to our government but the private sector as well, household staples, grocery inventories, and project materials. Mr. Speaker, I know of several projects that have a construction schedule, and they must meet this deadline for their resupply to start the season this spring.

Mr. Speaker, this government and the residents of Sahtu know very well the costly repercussions of costs associated with air transportation and the impacts of low water levels on the Mackenzie River. Mr. Speaker, as of today, there is 35 days left in our season, our affordable season I might add. It's comforting to receive delivery reports from the Minister of Infrastructure which eases the comfort of knowing we are all pulling together.

Mr. Speaker, my statements in sharing these concerns is to meet the deadline of March 31st for the affordable winter road season, and I must emphasize the need for attention and additional resources as I've received several concerns already this morning on the rough sections which is extending the trucking turnaround. Just to give you an example, Mr. Speaker, it takes the fuel truck from Enterprise to Colville Lake six days and four days to Fort Good Hope. So you can see the length of travel time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.