Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute the success achieved thus far on the reconstruction of the Detah road and call for us to keep building this road and building this success.
During this fiscal year and last, $4 million has been spent on the long-overdue reconstruction of the only all-weather artery to the community. Deton’Cho Corporation has led this project with a creative mix of joint ventures, partnerships, training and apprenticeship opportunities, equipment acquisition and development of management capacity, all the great things we want to see in the cost-effective projects that build our local and Aboriginal-owned businesses.
You can’t use the word “partnership” often enough. Deton’Cho, local private sector suppliers and partners, our territorial Transportation department and the federal government have cooperated to squeeze maximum benefits from every dollar. The government has backed that capacity and business development, granting the negotiated contracts that have enabled these benefits. The result: Local people are getting the jobs close to home, growing a local economy, and today we are closer to completing an acceptable highway to serve Detah’s vital needs. With the Highway No. 4 realignment around Giant Mine in the wings, Deton’Cho has the possibility for steady, continued success.
In this capital budget session we know that money is tight. Last year we were able to re-profile funds to add $2 million to this project. I will be asking this government to seek every opportunity to see that happen again. Deton’Cho has proven that it can be nimble and pick up the cash to ensure no precious dollars go to waste. I will be looking for dedicated funds to see this work completed.
The workers on this project are local family people. Many have gotten the training and the good jobs at the mines, but the jobs close to home and family are best. We’ve mixed up a recipe of success on the Detah road project. Let’s pull out all our best ideas and resources to roll these achievements to the end of the road.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
