From Frank Pope, mayor of Norman Wells:

What I am writing today should be of concern to every person who has chosen to make the NWT home.

We trust that the decision-makers we vote for will perform their due diligence and look after us in times of dire emergency. We in Norman Wells have been sorely let down in our time of extreme need.

My home community of Norman Wells is presently experiencing an emergency brought on through no fault of our own. We cannot, regardless of income levels, afford the cost of heating fuel this winter. I say this unequivocally.

We pride ourselves for solving our own problems and only ask for help when we can no longer do so. We have been advocating with our MLA, Danny McNeely, asking the GNWT and the Government of Canada for sorely needed financial aid. We have clearly stated that we need an immediate solution to offset heating costs this winter. Temperatures are dropping and we have yet to receive a meaningful offer of help from the GNWT and the Government of Canada has been completely invisible during this period.

The GNWT was aware of fuel price increases caused by air transportation as the government is subject to the very same air transportation cost increases. The GNWT was made resoundingly aware of the low water levels on the Mackenzie River, which was the cause of the barge cancellations. The river will be low next season and there is still no resupply plan in place from the GNWT. We have been asking the GNWT for approximately two years to develop a funded resupply plan and nothing has been formulated to date.

We have asked that our request for substantive help be answered. We understand a request can go to the Government of Canada from the GNWT. My community does not have time to play politics with the lives of residents, but we are still awaiting a response which will set our minds at ease this winter. We will then have the time we require to discuss long-term solutions.

It is imperative that we involve Imperial Oil resources going forward, as well as both levels of government.

The residents of Norman Wells opened their doors and hearts to the people of Fort Good Hope who were evacuated from their community this summer because of fires. We survive in the North because we help each other. That is how this territory was built.

Norman Wells severely requires help now and not after politicians decide to stop playing games.