Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, the Transportation department launched a $2.2 million new roads initiative for the Northwest Territories and there are four roads that are being studied that will have a great impact and economic benefit for all northerners. It is a good initiative for this government to undertake. We need road development to access non-renewable resources and, in turn, create jobs with the resultant spinoff of more stability for our government. There is a need for the government to address the issue of economic development.
Population levels in the west are stagnant or perhaps declining. Any population decrease will impact negatively on the amount of money that is transferred to this government from the federal government, through the formula financing system. Any decease in population could cost us millions of dollars, transfer dollars, plus losses in income taxes. It should also be remembered that our government continues to be hampered by the force growth in such areas as health and social services and education to the tune of possibly $15 million a year. While we may have a balanced budget today, in several years the forced-growth situation and decline in population may put this government in a deficit position once again.
The solution, of course, is for us to create jobs. Therefore roads to access the resources in the territories is critical. Our resource potential has been termed as massive with huge oil and gas fields, as well as rich deposits of diamonds and gold and other precious metals and minerals. These are the industries that can provide large-scale jobs for our northerners. Industry and businesses have for many years indicated that the lack of jobs is directly related to a lack of public investment in the transportation infrastructure. A highway into the barren lands, north of Yellowknife and Great Slave Lake, would give increased access not only for mineral exploration, but also for tourism. Such an undertaking can dramatically alter the economic well-being of the western Arctic and any road construction that leads to increased development of resources can have a positive rippling effect for all communities of the north, be they near or far. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause.