Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some time ago when I was reading a book, one of the sentences that I read from the author asked the audience, he said to the audience, “How do you eat an elephant?” One piece at a time was the response. I want to use that phrase in the ways how do you build a highway? One section at a time.
The Sahtu is hungry for a highway. We’ve been waiting. It’s about time that we come into the 21st century.
Over the weekend I went to Norman Wells. I purchased 10 kilograms of flour here at Walmart, $11.97. In Norman Wells it’s $45. Same bag, same kilograms, big difference. People in the Sahtu need a highway. We have heard from the federal government: one highway at a time. So, I ask this government, get that highway to Tuk built so we can start in the Sahtu region. Open up our resources. There’s a huge population of young people who want to work. We have a potential of wealth of resources sitting there: our people. That’s the potential. There’s potential in resources. Our people are hungry for work. They want a highway.
I know there was a submission made to the Minister of Transportation’s government to start doing section by section. People are needing to work desperately. It’s time to unleash the potential of the people in the Sahtu. Connect us to the rest of the Northwest Territories. Bring down the cost of living. Families want to go out, but you can only go out during the winter months, but then it means the cost of education, or taking time off.
People want to develop their skills, build their roads, build their destination. They want to be part of the Northwest Territories, not always sitting on the sideline.
I’ll have questions for the Minister on where is our highway for the Sahtu. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
