Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the Government of the Northwest Territories introduced a Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy for the Northwest Territories based on the vision of this Assembly as expressed in Towards a Better Tomorrow.

The Non-Renewable Resource Strategy for the Northwest Territories seeks to position the Northwest Territories and Canada to benefit from increased non-renewable resource development in the Northwest Territories, through a combination of investments in much-needed infrastructure, in our human resources, and in support to business and industry. Because the benefits from this development will extend beyond the Northwest Territories, we have asked the federal government to join us in making the strategic investments needed to realize these benefits.

Today, I am very pleased to join the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew in announcing that the Honourable Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, has just approved the expenditure of $3.7 million to improve our infrastructure and work towards the goals laid out in our Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy. Over the next two years, this funding will help complete seven permanent bridges over river crossings on the winter road extension of the Mackenzie Highway between Wrigley and Fort Good Hope.

This is a partnership project. The GNWT will provide $2 million to the construction project and work will begin as soon as equipment, materials and construction personnel can get onto the land.

Canada's contribution is predicated on two conditions that are acceptable to the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are:

1. that $2.3 million of DIAND's contribution will be spent on the employment of aboriginal workers and contractors; and
2. that before the conclusion of the construction period, industry will have made a $200,000 contribution in cash or kind.

Though the amount of this approved contribution is modest, when compared with the four-year partnership investment figures set out in our Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy, it is nonetheless a very important contribution.

It signals Canada's commitment to sharing the cost of preparing the Northwest Territories for the oil, gas and mining development that is in our mutual best interests. It represents a down payment on the investment we asked the Government of Canada to make with us to prepare our infrastructure for accelerated exploration and development. It tells industry that Canada cares about their hopes and their plans to bring our frontier resources on stream to southern markets. It confirms to the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories that Canada and the Northwest Territories share the commitment to ensure that benefits from non-renewable resource development in the NWT will not be allowed to pass them by.

The aboriginal government and business leadership in the Deh Cho and Sahtu are unanimous in their support of this initiative.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Minister Nault for taking this important step in advancing the development of the NWT. His commitment to follow through on his promises to me and to this government is gratefully acknowledged. It is critically important to us, to the oil and gas industry, and to the communities along the winter road that the shipping season be extended from five weeks to eight weeks. Minister Nault recognizes this and, through today's announcement, has ensured the funding for permanent bridges to make this happen.

I also want to thank our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, for her assistance in persuading Minister Nault and their shared Cabinet colleagues of the importance of the federal contribution to this initiative. She has been tireless and unrelenting in her efforts to this end and much of the credit for this announcement is hers. Thank you to Ethel.

I want to thank my Cabinet colleagues, particularly Minister Joe Handley and Minister Vince Steen and their respective staff, for their work with DIAND officials to ensure that the requirements, terms and conditions of this funding were fulfilled and confirmed. A job well done!

Finally, I would also like to acknowledge the positive feedback and encouragement that the government has received to date for our strategy from various federal Ministers and departments, including the Minister of Finance and his department, the Minister of Transportation and his department, just to name a few. My Cabinet colleagues and I look forward to the continued support of the federal Cabinet as we seek additional investments in the Northwest Territories Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy in the months and years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause