Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government and Legislature, we play a key role in economic development. We play a key role in ensuring that when development happens, we are prepared, we have the people trained and the resources in place to develop the infrastructure needed for development.
Mr. Speaker, in regard to my riding, the Mackenzie Delta, we have the potential of being one of the best oil and gas suppliers, not only to the North American market, but possibly to Asia and other places in the world.
Mr. Speaker, in order for us to do that, we have to ensure we play our part in getting the returns we should be getting. Specifically, ensuring people are employed and ensuring the resources that come from these developments stay here in the North. We need to develop that industry so it is there for the long-term, not just the short-term.
Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that this government continue to develop the infrastructure in our communities and our regions, especially the college programs we are going to need to ensure our people are qualified in the areas these developments will be demanding, such as engineering, biology, and chemistry.
We have to make sure that those people who are trained are able to expand their knowledge and move up, so they not only work within the industry, but have a say in how the industry is being controlled, managed and developed and sustained here in the North. Also so we can depend on the industry to sustain ourselves.
With that, Mr. Speaker, it is important that we, as a government, reach out to industry and see what they need, by way of developing needed infrastructure. We talk about a highway strategy. We talk about improving the airports. We talk about improving the infrastructure in our communities, but what do we do when a major development is on our doorstep, and we need 30 or 40 houses? Is this government ready to take that on? If we are not, I think we should prepare ourselves for a better scenario, because there may be a time where these developments will take place in the Beaufort Delta. Thank you.