Norman Wells is in the grips of a worsening crisis, says Mayor Frank Pope, who is beginning to doubt the federal government cares. 

He said he hasn't heard a word from Ottawa since the first week of June. 

"Nobody cares," he said. "Nobody gives a rat's ass."

There are numerous problems bearing down on Norman Wells.

Perched on the Mackenzie River, the community of roughly 700 people is not accessible by road, and as such, has historically been resupplied by ice road in the winter, and by barge in the summer. However, warming winter temperatures have shortened its recent ice road seasons, and this summer, the water levels in the river fell low enough that not a single barge could make the trip. That has left the community with no choice but to resupply by plane, which is more expensive, and causes the price of pretty much everything to spike. 

"The biggest thing right now is the cost of living," Pope said. "We see no way that thatSA国际影视传媒檚 going to go down.

"WeSA国际影视传媒檙e not in a very stable condition right now. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e got people who say, SA国际影视传媒業 canSA国际影视传媒檛 afford to live here anymoreSA国际影视传媒� who are leaving.

"A lot of people are concerned."

The high cost of living in Norman Wells could be curbed substantially by the long-discussed creation of the Mackenzie Valley Highway SA国际影视传媒� a proposed two-lane gravel route that would connect the community and others in the Sahtu region to the rest of Canada, year-round.

Progress on the billion-dollar project has been slow, but Pope believes that people in other parts of the country are beginning to understand how crucial it is. He hopes the project's remaining naysayers come around soon.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think people are catching on but not really enough to influence anybody in our favour," he said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e not looking for a freebie or a handout to build a billion-dollar road. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e looking for enough money to get a connection the south, at least from Norman Wells south to Wrigley and beyond. That will cut our cost of living considerably and will maybe give people a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 want it built in dribs and drabs of 10 kilometres here, five kilometres there. I want the whole damn thing built in a three or four-year period, and finished and built to a quality that we can work with.SA国际影视传媒�

Pope has campaigned relentlessly for the creation of the highway during his tenure as mayor. However, he has not yet decided if he will run for office again when the town goes to the polls in October, and worries that the already slow progress on the highway will grind to a halt if the job ends up going to the wrong person.

"I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know whoSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be running," he said. "ISA国际影视传媒檓 really worried about the community if we donSA国际影视传媒檛 get people [on council] that are going to continue to care about our community and advocate for our community, which ISA国际影视传媒檝e been pretty busy doing for the last few years. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 think weSA国际影视传媒檙e in a place right now where, we as a council, nearing the end of our term, do we declare a state of emergency?SA国际影视传媒�

Pope is also concerned about the impact the next federal election will have on Norman Wells, having been unimpressed by the Liberal party's reign, and having little faith in Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

SA国际影视传媒淸The Liberals] are on the way out, as far as I can determine," he said. "The leader of the Conservative party, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think he knows where the North is. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think in all of the years ISA国际影视传媒檝e heard him talk heSA国际影视传媒檚 even mentioned the North. So ISA国际影视传媒檓 worried going forward not only about the Norman Wells election but the next federal election too. ISA国际影视传媒檝e got a lot of concerns on a lot of fronts here.SA国际影视传媒�

By Pope's estimation, Norman Wells' future is full of uncertainty. He is confident the situation there could be improved by the creation of the highway, but not that it will happen anytime soon.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in a real quagmire, right now, of climate change misery, as far as ISA国际影视传媒檓 concerned," he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 so many things going against, and I really am concerned for our community moving forward with all the things hanging over our head. 

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 see any light at the end of the tunnel.SA国际影视传媒�