Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is in regard to the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project. Recently the Government of the Northwest Territories Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment filed comments with the National Energy Board on recommendations by the Joint Review Panel. Because the National Energy Board ultimately has the final decision on making further developments to the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project, these comments are very important and must be given the highest priority.

Many businesses along the corridor and northern regions have invested with hope that this would...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Today hearing a lot of my colleagues in regard to this project, you know, it being the Bridge Act in the 14th Assembly coming into the time of being signed off in the 15th Assembly and now us having to deal with this issue, I want to really make it clear for the smaller communities, like my colleague Mr. Beaulieu was mentioning, that we have to let the communities know that this project is not going to affect us in the long term and all the projects that we do have on the books will stay as is on a go forward basis. I really think that anybody that’s going to be impacted...

Mr. Speaker, the road to the gravel source is nearing completion, the Minister working with any other businesses, communities in the Mackenzie Delta and down the valley on the downturn of the delay of the business activity, has he found a way to continue stimulus funding for additional projects such as that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my Member’s statement was on the Mackenzie Gas Project and my questions today are for the Minister of ITI. Is the Minister of ITI working with Esso and other producers to get this Mackenzie Gas Project restarted to avoid the two-year delay that producers have announced? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, I was, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister if he could, I guess, send a letter to the producers groups and the Joint Review Panel, but producers groups in urging them to see if they could get this project restarted and try to hold back on the two-year delay, because people in the communities and down the valley need employment. The businesses that are suffering up and down the valley need this project to go sooner rather than later. I ask the Minister if he could send a letter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the Mackenzie Gas Project and to be on the record again to say that I support it. The Mackenzie Gas Project has been called the economic lifeline for many of our communities in the NWT.

This project is important for the people of my riding of Nunakput. It will bring jobs, business opportunities, ownership of the pipeline. Just as important, exploration will start up and the gas will have to make its way down to market. The good thing about that is the offshore holds amazing potential. We just needed the industry to come back and get started...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague Mr. Ramsay said, I am supporting the motion. I am really happy that we’re getting full-fledged support on the Regular Members’ side. The cost of living in the communities is high enough that we do not need another for milk products and that. In my home community of Tuk I think it’s $22 for a four-litre of milk. I think passing this on to the people in the smaller communities, we’re going to be always hit first.

I’m in full support of the motion and I thank my colleague Mr. Bromley for bringing this up. You have my full support.

This is the second time I’ve brought it up. We can look at Hansard from last year. When a patient is in pain in our communities, they must be flown out on the next flight no questions asked and to the nearest hospital. There is no reason that is good enough to have patients suffer needlessly, especially when it is due to overbooked planes. How does the Minister expect people to wait in their home communities in severe pain before a medevac is warranted?

As our communities and population ages, all the current practices are increasingly inadequate. Our elders and patients deserve more from this government. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time. Thank you.