Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act is a very powerful piece of federal legislation that was created a number of years ago. It sets up two fairly powerful boards that regulate the development of non-renewable resources here in the NWT. We’re facing a couple of situations right now that I think are kind of unusual and I want to bring them to the attention of the legislature.

The first one, Mr. Speaker, regards the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, which is now considering a request to take the Deh Cho Bridge proposal to a full environmental hearing. This bridge is a much-needed part of the infrastructure for Yellowknife and the North Slave, Mr. Speaker, but this hearing, which has come up quite recently, could cause a considerable delay in this project.

What is really quite unusual about it is that it is the federal Department of Fisheries which I understand is proposing this move, but it is not on behalf of the fish in the Deh Cho river, Mr. Speaker, it’s for economic reasons put forward by the NWT Chamber of Mines. I think it’s a bit unusual that a federal department is advocating the interests of mining, but the territorial government has a major investment in this piece of infrastructure, Mr. Speaker, and should be advocating for the interests of the people of the whole North Slave region and should be seeking to expedite this process.

The other situation that I find unusual, with regard to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, is the matter of the Con Mine abandonment and reclamation plan. Last summer, I and other MLAs asked the board for a more open, public process so we could see and perhaps have input into what was going on for shutting this mine down. We’ve heard nothing since then. While the mine, Mr. Speaker, has played a significant role in Yellowknife’s development, its closure is also going to have a significant impact on the development and the environment of this city for a number of years to come. Here, too, is where our government, I believe, should be taking a strong position in advocating for the interests of the public.

During question period, I’m going to be asking Ministers for their comment on these situations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause