Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Beaufort-Delta region is facing a real downturn in the economy over the last couple of years. Residents are very concerned about employment. We have many people in Inuvik who are selling their homes and moving away. Running low on natural gas is only one reason a lot of people are moving.
The residents of the Beaufort-Delta need the support of the 17th Legislative Assembly to implement our key priority, which is the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway. We have begun the process and I am hopeful that we can begin construction within the year.
Some Members have been quick to criticize the building of the Inuvik-Tuk highway. It’s easy for a Yellowknife MLA to be critical. Yellowknife is home to thousands of government jobs and services, and access to government officials is available. There is a life outside of Yellowknife. There is life in my riding of the Mackenzie Delta and in the Beaufort-Delta. We deserve every opportunity to economic development and prosperity that some people in this House take for granted.
