David Ramsay

I don’t have that figure and I’d be guessing, but I can perhaps read the Member’s mind. The projections on the maintenance costs of the Inuvik-Tuk highway would be approximately $2 million a year. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the 17th Legislative Assembly identified the need for an Economic Development Strategy to strengthen and diversify the Northwest Territories economy.

Our strategy will respond to changing circumstances in the North and address business opportunities in all regions of our territory.

Mr. Speaker, the Economic Opportunities Strategy is part of a much bigger picture. It complements other initiatives the GNWT is undertaking such as a comprehensive Mineral Development Strategy, and other linked initiatives such as the Land Use and Sustainability Framework and a Northwest Territories Anti...

Mr. Speaker, we contacted the Yukon departments of Highways, Public Works, Economic Development, Tourism and Culture. All of those departments in the Government of Yukon indicated that they do not in any way provide a subsidy to Greyhound to operate in the Yukon. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was unfortunate that Greyhound made the corporate decision to not include the Northwest Territories in its routes in 2011. They have done likewise across this country with taking away a number of rural routes into other northern areas of other provinces. Some provinces have provided subsidies. I know in Manitoba they’ve provided a $3.9 million subsidy to Greyhound to operate rural routes in Manitoba.

In the Yukon, with Alaska there and the Alaska Highway running through the Yukon, Greyhound continues to operate in the Yukon and services a market in Alaska of close to...

I think now is the time for the government to invest in an infrastructure project like the Inuvik-Tuk highway. Now is the right time. We have to think long term. One of the criticisms, when you talk to companies that want to do business here in the Northwest Territories, is the lack of infrastructure. Putting a road between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk is going to do a tremendous amount to the future economic prosperity of that region. It’s going to grow an economy outside of Yellowknife in a region of our territory that needs that type of activity. It will lead to resource development both onshore...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The ongoing maintenance and operation of that highway would be the responsibility of the Government of the Northwest Territories like other highways in the territory. So the answer would be no.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ll go back to the department and get a response for the Member as soon as possible. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve got a great team down in the Deh Cho in the Nahendeh riding, as the Member is aware, in Fort Simpson and other communities in the riding. We’d certainly be able to coordinate efforts with communities, with tourism operators in the area to make them aware of opportunities and drum up any potential sponsorships. I think that’s one area where, hopefully, the department would be able to help out in such an endeavour. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow my colleague from the Sahtu in recognizing two chiefs from the Sahtu, Mr. McNeely and Mr. Kenny. Welcome to the House. Also, a former colleague, Mr. David Krutko from the Mackenzie Delta, and a good friend, Mr. Danny Gaudet. Welcome.

In questions, I believe late last week, I gave the Member my commitment to perhaps even drive the winter road into his region into the Sahtu sometime this winter during the life of the ice road. If we can do that, if we can pull it together, I would be more than happy to talk to businesses, residents and stakeholders in the region. As I mentioned late last week, we have to learn lessons from this year’s experiences with the ice road, the amount of traffic that was on that road. If there are ways we can improve things, we need to be looking at that in the interim before there is an all-weather...