Debates of August 21, 2007 (day 14)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement today, I talked about the deep sea port and military exercise facility that was announced by the Prime Minister to be located in Nunavut. We all appreciate that our community rangers do a lot of exercises with the military in the wintertime. But at the same time, I think it is important that the West be considered for one of these facilities, either a deep sea port or a military exercise facility. The Premier has been talking with the Prime Minister on occasion with regard to Canadian sovereignty. I would like to ask the Premier, in his discussions with the Prime Minister, on whether he raised the issue about a deep sea port in the West? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 168-15(6): Deep Sea Port And Military Training Facility In Western Arctic

Mr. Speaker, I have raised the merits of that port on the western end of the Northwest Passage and promoted Tuktoyaktuk as both a port for Arctic sovereignty reasons as well as economic reasons since it is in the centre of the offshore oil and gas. I raised it with the Prime Minister, with Minister Prentice at various venues that I have spoken at over the past months. I continue to believe it is a good proposal, one that we, as a territory, should continue to promote. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 168-15(6): Deep Sea Port And Military Training Facility In Western Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Premier with regard to the Prime Minister’s recent announcement. I am sure that the Prime Minister, with his colleagues in Ottawa, probably talked about a deep sea port and military facility over the past few months or so. They probably decided at that time that Nunavut would be an ideal place. Given the recent announcement by the Prime Minister that Nanisivik and Resolute Bay would be identified for these two applications, I would like to ask the Premier if he will continue to work with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet to lobby for the West. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 168-15(6): Deep Sea Port And Military Training Facility In Western Arctic

Mr. Speaker, without taking anything away from Nunavut or seeming to take things away from that territory, I will certainly lobby for the development of our capacity in the Western Arctic. I believe that any shipping that is going to happen through the Northwest Passage is going to have to be between Banks Island and the mainland. That is a relatively narrow body of water and it is an area that would be quite simple, in my view, to monitor.

Mr. Speaker, the other reason I continue to lobby for the West is because of the oil and gas and the interest by both United States, through Alaska, and our government on who owns what water in the Beaufort. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.