Mr. Speaker, I listened to the Premier’s Sessional Statement with some interest. I’d like to propose today my partial solution as to how we can realize these five initiatives that the Premier mentioned with one project Andthat project, Mr. Speaker, is the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway.
We could build our future by giving our residents training opportunities. We may end up with a trained workforce that could go to work in Fort McMurray because the mines don’t seem to want them. We could reduce the cost of living, Mr. Speaker — and that’s a given — by allowing products to be trucked in to all the communities.
By being part of the decision-making process and lending our support to this project, we could manage our land. We could maximize opportunities by giving businesses and individuals an opportunity to benefit from the construction of the highway with equipment and services and all the other related work that would come.
Ottawa speaks about Arctic sovereignty all the time, Mr. Speaker. This would give them an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is and have a road from right up to Tuktoyaktuk because residents of the Northwest Territories are a little tired of lip service.
Mr. Speaker, the Premier mentioned in his Sessional Statement that these five initiatives would provide a road map for our future. I’m saying, let’s give them a road that they can use the map on.
This project makes sense, Mr. Speaker. It makes more sense than a proposed Deh Cho Bridge. Let’s do a project that would benefit all the Northwest Territories, instead of one project that would benefit just a few.
Mr. Speaker, give me the opportunity, and I will vote no to the Deh Cho Bridge, and I will vote yes to the Mackenzie Valley Highway.
