Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today, while I stand here, I want to talk on behalf of the elders. A lot of the elderly ladies have spoken to me of how the road comes, and also, whenever we have an all-season road, a lot of the elderly ladies are very concerned about how come they don't have safety, on behalf of the elders. Mr. Speaker, I will speak in English. [Translation ends]
I want to speak about the issue that, for reasons you will soon understand, rarely makes it to these hallowed walls. Some might be tempted to laugh, but it's deadly serious, as you will see. It's about toilets, Mr. Speaker, public toilets. I'm referring to the provision of lavatories on the most travelled section of road in the Northwest Territories, Highway No. 3. The problem is that there are no restrooms or toilets. I'm talking about the 100-kilometre stretch of Highway No. 3 between Behchoko and Yellowknife, and when the winter road opens up to the outlying communities, that's even further.
There is not a single gas station or restroom on the whole, entire road, Mr. Speaker. I talked earlier about the very unfortunate death on Highway No. 3 of my constituent, the late Kelly Washie. When Kelly got out of the car on the roadside last New Year's Eve, I'm sorry to say that it was to relieve himself. That's when he was tragically hit. This is the most tragic consequence of there not being public washrooms or restrooms on this highway, but in fact, not a day passes when the absence of public restrooms is not illuminated in the most urgent way because, Mr. Speaker, for some, especially the most vulnerable elders, elderly women, and especially children, sometimes an hour and a half, two hours, two and a half hours, or even from Wekweeti, it's even further, almost five or seven hours; way too long to wait. What does your mother, your wife, your sister, and your little daughter do then, Mr. Speaker? I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at the appropriate time. Masi, Mr. Speaker.