Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend was a very eventful one for me in the constituency I represent, which is Nahendeh.
The Honourable John Todd and his staff travelled with me into Nahendeh this past weekend, June 9th to 11th. We visited Fort Simpson, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard and Trout Lake. In Fort Simpson, Mr. Speaker, on Friday we had meetings with the village council, the band councils and held public meetings. Individual meetings were also held with people who had concerns about the business situations. I think it was a very successful visit we had in Fort Simpson.
On Saturday, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd and staff, along with the board members of the NWT Development Corporation, travelled to Nahanni Butte to meet with people and view construction of a new building that is taking place there. This new building will have a store, hotel rooms, a coffee shop and a place to clean up, like showers and so forth. This is a joint venture between the NWT Development Corporation and the Nahanni Butte Development Corporation.
This is a major step for the people of Nahanni Butte. They got work from Economic Development, with the help of this development corporation. This building is going to be able to help them in a way that it hasn't before, Mr. Speaker. For many years, tourists have been travelling by this community, coming out of the Nahanni National Park, and now they have a reason to stop. This way, the people from the community will have the opportunity to benefit from the economic
opportunities that exist there. So I think it was a very satisfying visit there.
Later that day, Mr. Speaker, we travelled on to Fort Liard where we had official openings of a number of buildings -- a gas bar and convenience store and a new craft shop for the Acho-Dene crafts business -- as well as viewing a new firehall that was built there.
The new crafts shop was built with the help of the NWT Development Corporation. Fort Liard has made a name for itself in the past, and they have been very successful in marketing their own products. Mr. Speaker, I have run out of time. I am seeking unanimous consent to finish my statement.