Thank you, Mr. Speaker and welcome back. Mr. Speaker, I am honoured today to provide Members with an update on what I consider to be a highly successful and productive three-day meeting with my colleagues from the four western provinces and the Yukon Territory. The 1997 Western Premiers' Conference had a heavy but vital agenda that covered a range of issues affecting the people who live in western Canada, and even more importantly, who live in Canada's north. Overall, I am pleased to report, the other Premiers are in full support of the Northwest Territories becoming more self-reliant and a vital member of Canada's political and economic landscape.
All five Premiers have personally offered support in our attempts to gain northern control over northern resources, as they recognize that our resources and our land play an important role in the future development of Canada. All five Premiers have agreed to support us in any way they can in our negotiations with Ottawa. More specifically, I have also gained their support in our efforts to convince the federal government to move Northern Affairs from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories. In my discussions with them, they all agreed it makes little sense to have people making key decisions on mineral rights and programs in the north based in the south. They see and support the overall value of the move in improving decision-making as well as the more immediate value of having these individuals contributing to the northern economy. With that kind of support, we have a stronger chance of being heard in Ottawa. Because now we not only are able to speak with the voices of the people in the north, we have the voice of the people of western Canada cheering us on and backing us up in our negotiations on issues and funding that affect our future.
I was also pleased to hear that the other provinces recognize the importance of economic development in the north and are directing their respective Ministers to meet to develop an action plan on northern economic issues. The Premiers acknowledge the constraints on northern economic development that result from lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities for program delivery. As they have at a previous conference, they also agreed that the federal government should fulfil its long-standing commitment to devolve remaining provincial-type responsibilities to territorial governments.
As part of our discussions on improving economic conditions in the north, we also talked about the importance of reliable, low-cost transportation systems to their economies. Overall, we all agreed the federal government, working with the provincial and territorial governments, should develop specific proposals for its National Highway Program. More importantly, the Premiers stated clearly that in developing funding arrangements for a National Highway Program, special consideration must be given to the needs of remote northern regions, which may have low traffic volumes, but which rely on the National Highway System for access, tourism and economic development.
The Premiers strongly support the Northwest Territories' efforts to gain federal support for a highway through the mineral-rich central Arctic or what we refer to as the Slave Geologic Corridor. Recognizing there is no surface access to the enormous potential that exists there, they agreed that it is in Canada's interest that this region be connected to the road, rail and port systems in the Northwest Territories, Alberta and British Columbia. As well, priority was also given to the highway in the Mackenzie Valley Corridor and one through the Yukon connecting Alaska to the four western provinces.
Mr. Speaker, as you can imagine in three days of meetings, both formal and informal, we covered a variety of important topics, ranging from youth employment to health and social reform. However, no matter what the topic, we agreed the western provinces and the territories must continue to work together to ensure we are heard at the national level. We have a unique perspective and unique needs. We will be going forward to the First Ministers' Conference in August with a strong voice and with a cohesive position on a number of issues facing Canadians today.
Overall, while we reached consensus on a variety of issues and agreed to work together on a number of initiatives, I believe the meeting was truly a success because our colleagues in western Canada are now recognizing and taking action to help support and secure the future of the north. They share in our belief that all Canadians have a vested interest in the future of the north and have pledged their support to work with us to help ensure that future is a strong one. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.
-- Applause