My question is for the Government Representative. Last year, I drew your attention and the attention of this chamber to the crisis facing the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, which has been devastated by wildfire. I regret to say that the reserve was hit by wildfire again this year and forced to evacuate the entire community, which is more than 5,000 people. This got much less press attention than the fires in Jasper, unfortunately.

My question for you today is this: Now that Little Red River is having to rebuild from two sequential fires, what steps is the government taking to make sure that, unlike last year, this year they will be able to get the goods and services they need to the remote reserve in order to do that rebuilding?

Two of the interlocking challenges that faced the reserve last year as they attempted to rebuild were variable water levels on the river, which are affected by BC Hydro dams to the west, and also decisions by Transport Canada to say that the nation’s barges had not been properly inspected so that federal employees and contractors could ride on them. I’ve been trying to get a response from Transport Canada for months now to know what the status is of the regulation of those barges. I wondered if you could commit to me to ask Transport Canada to try to provide us —