Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend. I have to stay I don’t have enough of these best friends, but I don’t mind because I know that the diamonds have become best friends of Yellowknife and the NWT. I know that our friends in Tlicho will also tell you that diamonds are a Dogrib’s best friend. My colleagues in Hay River are working hard to make sure that diamonds become Hay River’s best friend.

Mr. Speaker, but I have to say that I am not sure if this government has been diamond’s best friend. The first thing is that the government has not done enough, in my view, to ease the logistical pressure in getting supplies to the diamond mines by extending the winter ice road season.

Mr. Speaker, I think they should be clear what this is about, because I am hearing a lot of confusion even in this House about what we need to do. Mr. Speaker, diamond mines and the resource industry are not looking for an all-weather road to their areas at the expense of other capital projects. Also, this is not about the race between the NWT and Nunavut as to whether or not if Nunavut builds a deep sea port first, that we will lose our chance. The lead for the extension of the winter ice road exists whether or not the port in Nunavut is built.

Mr. Speaker, what we need to know is that the worst impact of the climate change and the global warming is sitting right on top of where these diamond mines are. We have the most warming pattern in temperatures in this area than any other area in Canada. This is really placing the viability of supplying the mines through the winter ice road into serious question and jeopardy.

Mr. Speaker, all of the information is there by the joint venture committee and it is imperative that this government takes a very serious look at the situation and become an active participant on how we address it. Mr. Speaker, the government, both the NWT and federal government, has an obligation to support the infrastructure for the life of mines for the next 20 to 30 years.

Mr. Speaker, again I need to say that this is not a competition with Nunavut because if anyone who is interested in getting to the facts even if Nunavut builds a port, they couldn’t do all the work that the winter ice roads do now as efficiently or effectively. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even if there is a port, we will still need to supply the mines by road. The only way to do that in the most efficient way is by extending the winter road. The way to do that is to build some infrastructure in the entry point where there are soft spots and really shortens the winter road season. There are other parts throughout the ice road that needs enforcement that this government can do to extend the ice road and to be able to withstand some of the warming trends. So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say, for the record, that I support the joint committee’s proposal to work on this issue. I urge this government and the federal government to get on it and take care of the business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause