Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up from my Member’s statement, I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation a question. The cost estimate of the Inuvik-Tuk highway is about $300 million. How much of that is expected to stay in the Northwest Territories economy through businesses and job opportunities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Decisions haven’t been made on procurement but certainly my belief – and I’ve said it in the House before and I will say it again today – is that the vast majority of that close to $300 million should stay in the Northwest Territories, should put equipment that’s here in the Northwest Territories to work and people to work here in the Northwest Territories. We don’t want to see that money leave the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, would the Minister describe the economic benefits of the Inuvik-Tuk highway once it is built? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the economic benefits will be great for all of the communities in the Beaufort-Delta for visiting family and connecting the communities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. It will lower the cost of living in Tuktoyaktuk. We won’t have to build the ice road to Tuktoyaktuk in the winter months any longer. Long term, this road will have tremendous impact on the exploration and development of oil and gas in the region and lead to many more jobs and opportunities for residents in the Beaufort-Delta.
Also, I should mention tourism. Currently, in the summer months, when tourists drive the Dempster Highway into Inuvik, they have to take a plane into Tuktoyaktuk if they want to dip their toe in the Arctic Ocean. That will be a thing of the past. Tourists will be able to drive all the way to the Arctic Coast and dip their toe in the Arctic Ocean and also visit a pingo or two while they are in Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if the project does get approval, what will this government do to ensure that Gwich’in contractors get a fair share of the work building the Inuvik-Tuk highway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, again, no decision has been made on procurement on the highway, but our expectation is that people in the Beaufort-Delta and companies in the Beaufort-Delta will be able to work together. There is going to be a lot of work.
Thank you, Minister Ramsay. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
