Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the construction of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline seems to be inevitable. This will be the largest capital project in the history of the Northwest Territories. We have an opportunity as legislators to ensure that we get it right from the perspective of the best interests of our people. Communities, regions and land corporations up and down the valley have titles to the land which are along the pipeline right-of-way. The rights of these lands were hard fought for. The fact that the main proponent of the pipeline that will cross these lands needs to negotiate access and benefits is one of the prime differences of why a pipeline is achievable today and wasn’t 25 years ago. Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake, which I represent, are examples of two communities who are prepared to come forward with a position on access and benefits. This government should show leadership by entirely supporting the successful negotiations of access and benefits.

They also need to support aboriginal land owners as they pursue other commitments which to date are unfulfilled, such as the final agreement on protected areas. These outstanding areas are integral to the early development of the oil and gas sectors and the transportation of these resources to market. They’re not optional topics for discussion. Agreements must be in place prior to construction.

I would like to see this public government take a leadership role in supporting these goals. In doing so, they will send a clear message to industry. It will set a precedent for other communities along the pipeline right-of-way.

So how does this government demonstrate this leadership? Recently we learned that a special ministerial committee struck by the Prime Minister of Canada, naming Ann McLellan, the Deputy Prime Minister, as Chair, specifically to deal with the issues related to the development of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The federal government sees the importance and merits of this project as a priority to the extent that this committee has been appointed with such a high profile Chair. Surely this government sees it necessary to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, during question period I’ll have questions for the Premier relating to what this government is doing to support our constituents to ensure that benefits from the pipeline are accrued to northerners, not just through ownership, but on many fronts, including the immediate financial impacts from access and benefits agreements. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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