Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the economic future of Deh Cho region, and likewise the Mackenzie Valley, is dependent on the rapid development of highways and transportation links. We need to be able to send products and other resources to a market, and we need to attract tourists and other consumers to our scenic and traditional communities. The former government realized the economic promise inherent in an improved transportation system. I am sure that the honourable Member for Amittuq and his officials must remember on October 15, 1990 when Gordon Wray, then Minister of the department, announced four strategic objectives which would guide his new Northwest Territories transportation strategy.

Mr. Speaker, the second objective was a commitment to push back our economic frontiers through highway improvements aimed at linking our resources to their markets. I can quote from Hansard what Mr. Wray said that day. He said, "We are proposing major new highway construction projects to put more communities on the highway map and to provide access to vast areas for tourism and the responsible development of renewable and non-renewable resources." Among the proposed projects was an extension of the Mackenzie Highway to Inuvik, Mr. Speaker. The people of the Deh Cho region believe this public government should keep its word.

Mr. Speaker, I am disheartened by the fact that the current cabinet appears to have turned its back to principles outlined by the previous government's transportation strategy. An example is the decision not to proceed this year with plans to build a bridge across Willowlake River linking Wrigley with Fort Simpson. This project would have been one step toward the sort of development that was the key government objective 16 months ago.

I realize that our government's finances are in a sorry shape, but, so far, most of what we have heard from colleagues on the other side of this House has been regressive talk about down-sizing, attrition, postponement and getting lame. I fully agree with the need for tighter money management at the departmental level, but, Mr. Speaker, this cabinet must stop to realize that if we forget about taking initiatives to develop our northern resource base, we will never be able to sustain our economy over a longer term. Mahsi cho.