Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table Petition 10-12(3) from the constituents of the Sahtu. The petition states, Whereas the need for a ground transportation system in the western Arctic has been identified by all levels of government since the early 1960s and continues to be a priority today. Whereas the Canadian government announced the commencement of the Mackenzie Valley Highway in 1972 and construction was started on this important transportation link to the north. Whereas the economic need for a highway system has never been greater than it is today. Whereas the government has transferred responsibility for northern road construction but not funding to the Government of the Northwest Territories. Therefore we request that both the federal and territorial governments accept their joint responsibilities to the residents of the Mackenzie Valley Corridor and commence discussions now to prepare the phased implementation plan for completion of the highway to Fort Norman, Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and north to tie in with the existing highway south of Inuvik. Furthermore we recommend that these discussions take place with the involvement of northerners and include a construction time table to completion."

Mr. Speaker, the petition is signed by 363 residents of the Sahtu and western Arctic. There are signatures of people from other parts of the Northwest Territories. The petition has also been tabled in the House of Commons by the Member of Parliament, Ethel Blondin.