Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today's statement's on offshore drilling. Mr. Speaker, 2016, the federal government imposed an order preventing certain activities in the Arctic offshore waters. The federal government prohibited activities in the Arctic Ocean, including oil and gas offshore drilling. Mr. Speaker, this wasn't good news for the residents of the Beaufort Delta. But the end of the order is coming up quick; it expires December 2022.
Mr. Speaker, I spoke in this House before, Inuvialuit region, we're Inuvialuit born and raised, and we want to see offshore oil and gas opening up again. With oil and gas, our people can go back to work, get high paying jobs, and bring monies home for their families. We know the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation will make top priority to ensure of workers of the Beaufort see these measures to protect the people, the wildlife, the marine environment, and what's written in our land claim.
At the time February 2020, the Premier responded that the GNWT is at the table with the federal government on this topic. The regional strategic environmental assessment is required to be undertaken through the moratorium, the final report complete July 2020. Mr. Speaker, the work required under the moratorium has been completed. We'll see the development opportunities. The Arctic is what's our future.
The GNWT and Canada are prepared to work with communities' potential opportunities in the Arctic Ocean, not only the Beaufort Delta region looking for the offshore oil and gas opportunities we see, the sea ice is melting, the Arctic corridors are opening up and this will increase transportation security, monitoring, and other opportunities could arise in the Arctic Ocean for the NWT residents. How long is the GNWT waiting to respond to this? And I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Members' statements. Member for Hay River South.
