Mr. Speaker, we are in a war, a trade war, and while our efforts have earned a 30-day reprieve, there's still much work to be done towards a resolution. Canadians are still struggling to come to terms with the sudden betrayal of one of our oldest allies that has upended the North American economy. I know Northerners are worried, and by virtue of having the earliest legislative session this year, we get to demonstrate that leadership for the first opportunity to formally address the illegal tariffs threatened by US President Donald Trump. Today, let us reaffirm our commitment to upholding our sovereignty and taking all necessary action to support a Team Canada approach against this threat to our communities. [Translation] Mr. Chair, Canadians are proud to say that our country is the second largest in the world with close to 10 10 million square kilometers but eighty percent of our population resides at less than 250 kilometers from the American border. As individuals living in the remote areas of the Arctic and Subarctic a large part of the Canadians -- or Americans can only know where we live by looking at a map. In fact, these -- that other people who have been living on these -- on this land since immemorial times and all the colonizers who defend the sovereignty of Canada. [Translation Ends].
But, Mr. Speaker, we have always had friends and allies who have helped us in this task of keeping our communities safe and strong. Canadians and Americans have stood shoulder to shoulder for over a century, fighting in two world wars, where the resources of the Northwest Territories played a crucial role in ending those conflicts; and thereafter, to defend against the threat of the Soviet Union by building and operating the DEW Line that stretched from Alaska to Nunavut. My father was a civilian contractor on the DEW Line for NORAD, and our relationship with the US is the reason my family is here in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, it is my hopes that none of this trade war comes to pass and that the dumbest trade war in history ends without a shot being fired. But if there is a silver lining to an unpredictable US president, it's that his irrational behaviour proves that it is Canada that must invest in the Northwest Territories. We need to eliminate internal trade barriers, reduce regulatory burdens, and expand our military infrastructure with an ambitious strategy to expand, develop, and open up new markets.
To Canadians, thank you for standing up for your country and against those who would do us harm. To Americans, remember we are your friends and neighbours, not your enemies. And to Northerners, your government will see you through this crisis and keep the True North strong and free. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife Centre.
