Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, have serious concerns about the wisdom of building the Inuvik-Tuk highway. The project doesn’t make economic sense. The only thorough analysis we’ve had was prepared in 2010 for a project costing $230 million. Twenty-eight months and $12 million later, it’s $311 million. That 2010 analysis revealed little if any net economic benefit, notably with reductions in oil and gas economic activity of thousands of person years of employment and significant reductions to GDP due to efficiencies.
Today with ice-free shipping seasons and marine transport, pipelines are off the table, probably leading to even more reductions. A spurt of 1,000 short-term jobs during construction with only 42 long-term jobs over 45 years is not responsible investment in economic development.
We don’t even have the technical information needed to make a decision. A go/no go decision must be based upon a full design and cost estimate, a full understanding of partner responsibilities and a thorough assessment of risks. These are the worst road-building conditions in the world, and moving forward with incomplete designs and cost estimates would be nonsensical. We went ahead with a bridge at 85 percent design, eventually threw that design away and built a bridge at over three times the original price tag. Starting at the Minister’s discounted price of $299 million – just trust me, won’t you? – what would the final cost be?
Transportation has come to the government trough too many times already and we still lack basic information. How much patience do you think our taxpaying public has? The Beau-Del is in trouble and people need our help, but where is our innovative, thoughtful, long-term plan for regional stability and employment? Let’s move on from failed megaprojects.
A fraction of the highway cost spent on a renewable energy system would free Inuvik from crushing energy cost, create lots of long-term local jobs and provide a base for economic growth. The region and people are spectacular. Where is the real support for tourism development there?
Five years of road building doesn’t make an economy. Once we turn the first shovel on this road there’s no turning back.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent denied
Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.
