Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Premier, yesterday in his sessional statement, indicated the Mackenzie bridge would proceed as planned. Once again I feel the Beaufort-Delta has been left out on major projects. However, I stand here today to lobby and ask the government to allocate $15 million to construct the 22-kilometre access road from Tuktoyaktuk to source 177.

Mr. Speaker, the mayor of Tuktoyaktuk and members of the Tuk Highway Committee and I have met, on numerous occasions, with Premier Handley, the deputy minister of Transportation, and recently with DIAND Minister Prentice, to lobby and allocate infrastructure funding for the construction of a 22-kilometre access road. Mr. Speaker, if this government can allocate funds to the construction of the 22-kilometre access road, it will provide employment, training and economic stability for local people and regional businesses.

Mr. Speaker, the community of Tuktoyaktuk requires granular material to upgrade their road and prepare for lot developments. The Premier, in his sessional statement on May 9th, 2007, indicated, and I quote, “a lack of infrastructure is perhaps the single biggest impediment for further development in our territory.” The Premier further mentioned a base of $25 million annually infrastructure funding will be available for the next seven years. Mr. Speaker, the Premier’s promise holds true because if the infrastructure funding is not in place, we will not progress as a territory. By investing some of the $25 million into the construction of the 22-kilometre access road, it will generate employment and contracts for local businesses.

Mr. Speaker and Members, construction of the access road will be the start of an all-weather road between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to invest some of the $25 million towards the construction of the 22-kilometre access road from Tuk to source 177. Mr. Speaker, by investing into the 22-kilometre access road, it will eventually lead to the construction of the Tuk-Inuvik highway, therefore enabling all Canadians to travel from coast to coast to coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause