Debates of October 29, 2004 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise to speak on the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik highway. The deputy mayor of Tuktoyaktuk and I invited a number of MLAs to meet with the Minister of Transportation recently, and I thank them for attending. I also thank the Minister for hearing us out.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Tuk-Inuvik committee are planning to revitalize the committee. There is strong support to make this road a reality, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in a report by Ferguson Simek Clark in 1997, I know it is sort of outdated but, in the report, Mr. Speaker, a service road may be completed over time. The estimates of the annual cost of the road being done in five years, $7.2 million annually; 10 years, $3.6 million annually; and 20 years, $1.8 million annually; for a total of $40 million. However, this estimate may raise the cost of the amount in 2004. Mr. Speaker, this government has always put the onus on the federal government. I understand this is the case. However, we should take the lead role to make this service road a reality in order to travel from coast to coast to coast.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation should work with the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik committee, and together they may be able to put this partnership forward. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister of Transportation to immediately contact his federal counterpart to discuss this project about the Tuk-Inuvik service road. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause