Debates of August 20, 2007 (day 13)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member’s statement is on the Mackenzie Valley highway, the proposed highway that is being considered by this government and past governments. One of the key issues I want to hit on, Mr. Speaker, is the isolation the people in the Sahtu are feeling. There is an enormous amount of interest by oil companies, mining companies. More importantly, the people in the Sahtu are saying enough is enough. When is this government going to make a strong commitment in pushing down the Mackenzie Valley highway, bring jobs to the Sahtu, bring the cost of living down in the Sahtu, raise the standards of living in the Sahtu and bring our interest and free our people in the Sahtu…

Hear! Hear!

…from the isolation, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the rest of the Northwest Territories, except for Nunakput, and my honourable colleague from Nunakput and other areas in the Tlicho area are also isolated; more importantly, in the Sahtu and up in Nunakput. Other communities enjoy discussions of paved roads, fixing the bumps here and there, putting a bridge here and putting a bridge there. We talk about the cost of living, Mr. Speaker. People in the Sahtu dream of your discussions.

Dream!

They can only dream of having paved roads. Even bring the standards of our goat roads up in the wintertime, Mr. Speaker. The cost of living is high. We want to contribute to the Northwest Territories. We want to be part of the Northwest Territories in terms of shaping our economy and contributing to the political structure. We can’t do it in the dark. That’s what this government is doing in terms of postponing the bridge, postponing the highway, not having a serious discussion with the federal government when they had a chance to and say open up the North.

Part of Diefenbaker’s dream was to build a Mackenzie Highway right from Tuktoyaktuk. Let’s put it through. Don’t go sidetracking to another road. Put the money where it’s supposed to be. Put the money there and free our people again in the Northwest Territories. The Sahtu people need to be free. They need to make a contribution to the Northwest Territories and bring that standard of living to everybody in the North. That’s what good government is all about. Thank you.

Hear! Hear!