Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today will be on the vehicle gravel materials to maintain the roads, driveways and build the necessary building pads for the further development in the community of Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, because the closest gravel source is not accessible by an all-weather road, the hamlet and community contractors have to wait until the winter months to build up their stockpiles for the upcoming years. With so many unknowns on the pace of development, the Tuktoyaktuk planning committee has identified and need for ready access to a gravel source.

Mr. Speaker, I have to wonder about our government where the Department of Justice can just get about $3 million in the 2006-07 Main Estimates to begin work on the courthouse in Yellowknife, but, yet, Municipal and Community Affairs has only identified a meagre $250,000 to address gravel materials for all of the communities in the Northwest Territories; peanuts for infrastructure in communities and millions for Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, Cabinet and the deputy minister in the capital planning should give serious considerations to the infrastructure needs of the communities. A need for gravel materials for roads, water access service and landfills are crucial to the safety of all residents and communities. This government should work with the Inuvialuit Land Administration to gain year-round access to gravel source 177 which is only 22 kilometres from the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Opening up gravel source 177 will address Tuktoyaktuk’s gravel needs for a number of years. I am concerned that, with the coming of the pipeline, the needs of the industry will take the priority over the infrastructure needs of the communities.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to encourage this government to enter into a dialogue with Inuvialuit Land Administration and the hamlet to secure the gravel source for the future of Tuktoyaktuk. Funding will also be required for the community of Tuktoyaktuk to secure the rights to this gravel source. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause