Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in the House to reply to the budget address. Mr. Speaker, last week we heard the presentation of this Assembly’s budget. As we stand here today, if we turned back the time to last year or last Assembly’s budget deliberations to unwind our current financial position, we would only find ourselves faced in a similar decision about our financial destiny. This budget is based on current challenges to reach balanced financial positions on terms developed by our peers and colleagues across the floor. It is said, and I agree, that the best social programs are wage-earning opportunities that bring security and self-reliance to all who participate on infrastructure and proposed infrastructure development.
Mr. Speaker, governance means setting priorities to achieve the goals and aspirations our voters expect of us for the delivery of programs and services. Our population living in small communities has and will contribute to the totals gained through the federal transfer payments. Given that calculations are equal to those living in larger centres, together the income makes up for over half of the GNWT’s income. The smaller communities’ populations therefore must be served with the same privileges as any other Northern residents. Mr. Speaker, that privilege includes the right to develop their own lands for economic opportunities. We cannot afford to sit idle on this vast land of potential and wait for the TFF payment. When it comes to infrastructure development, Mr. Speaker, let us review the principles of engagement for the stakeholders on the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway extension: the portion from Wrigley to Norman Wells is 330 kilometres in distance. Of that right-of-way 72 per cent is in the Sahtu region and 28 per cent in the Deh Cho. The capital cost of this project is applied for at $700 million. During the previous years, this government participated and assisted the regions to develop a project description report. This report in our area, or Sahtu area, shows granular embankment volumes in excess of 8.5 million cubic metres of granular material. If you multiply that by a rate of your choice on the royalties, you would see significant income from that commodity by itself. I only can assume it would take place over several years, thus creating multi-year activity at a time of great need. As stewards of the land and elected officials of this government, it is incumbent upon us to provide growth opportunities based on the principles of commerce and trade.
Mr. Speaker, let us review some elements of the ROI or return on investment for this proposed capital project. Tourism is already worth over $100 million in annual income for our territory, and by creating affordable access to the central Mackenzie Valley area further attractions to that area would bring additional traffic and higher revenues. By developing oil and gas and mineral potential in the area we could reasonably expect resource royalties to contribute in excess of $30 million in annual income to this government. Savings to this government also should be realized through more affordable construction, shipping, and overall mobility. In our selected options for revenue generation, we risk being viewed as the Sheriff of Nottingham by placing additional taxes on our few northern residents.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, the Mackenzie Valley Highway is supported by Members of the previous Assembly, the Sahtu Secretariat, various NWT chamber organizations, Alberta NGOs, and the recommendations made in the Transport Canada’s recent National Transportation Review, as well as many other representatives of governments and industry. We will be resilient. Through sound and prudent financial planning I believe we can overcome this troubled financial inheritance and work together to create a prosperous future for all residents of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
