Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was regarding the Mackenzie Valley Highway in between Tuk and Inuvik and right down to Wrigley. Mr. Speaker, due to the pipeline being delayed, I think this is a good go for it to keep our people busy in the region and up and down the Valley. So will the government lobby the federal government to show the serious commitment by elevating options such as the P3 leaseback arrangement, not just internally but to local government leadership, aboriginal groups and corporate leaders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation is always looking for unique ways to move forward on large infrastructure projects. This Mackenzie Valley Highway is no different and we’d certainly commit to moving forward with all the people involved and interested in seeing this as a project that would provide economic benefit to people in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you. Will the government devote lobbying resources and attention to the mega project of this size that it deserves, and will the government involve MLAs up and down the delta or in the valley, community leaders and corporate leaders to push forward the true form of an inclusive campaign group to head to Ottawa? Thank you.
We have put a lot of effort in moving this project forward. We’ve had many meetings with our federal counterparts regarding federal infrastructure, investment in our road. We all acknowledge that that’s a requirement and I will continue to work with all stakeholders and all partners in efforts to fund the construction of a project such as this. Thank you.
Thank you. Will the government commit to pushing the all-season road from Inuvik to Tuk with funding sources such as with the federal government? Thank you.
Thank you. That has been our challenge for many years to move forward on infrastructure in all the parts of the Territories. The road from Inuvik to Tuk has been pretty progressive, very progressive in terms of having the project description report done and submitted, and I certainly will commit to doing the same for this section as we plan to involve all parcels and all projects for the whole Mackenzie Valley road forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government, in regard to the all-season road from Tuk to Inuvik, the federal government must see the potential, not the potential, but the resources there in the community and for a deep sea port for the Western Arctic, I think the Western Arctic, and my point has been left out. Everything that’s driven by the federal government that’s been given out to any sort of funding has been going to the Eastern Arctic. Mr. Speaker, we have to step up to the plate and get something done in regard to this highway. Not only the highway but for the pipeline and to get the federal government onside to push forward these initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. I’d like to reassure the Member that we have taken every opportunity from all Members of Cabinet, including the Premier, to bring our projects forward. We feel there is a lot of potential in the Northwest Territories. There have been meetings with federal officials, there have been meetings with the Ministers, there also have been meetings with the Prime Minister. They are aware of our projects and we will continue to lobby and to meet with them to put our positions forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
