Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Dogrib people from the four communities I represent have expressed an interest in having an all-weather road connecting them. With the winter road season growing shorter, an all-weather road would allow my constituents access to more affordable goods and services.
Every year, the government spends money creating winter roads which melt away each spring. It might be wiser to develop infrastructure and add on to the 30 kilometres of road that have already been developed in this area.
The benefit to the government would be that this road connecting the communities could be used as a road to resources. A transportation corridor which allows easier year-round access to the diamond mines. With the growth of greenhouse gases through the continued development of industrial activities in the North, we would be wise to have strategies that would reduce our gas emissions.
Currently, mines use diesel power generators. If we develop this road to resources, hydro power could be used instead by installing transmission lines along the new road. These lines could feed off of the hydro power generated by the hydro dams in the Dogrib region.
If a road to resources were built out of Rae, it would be a road that would benefit the communities even after the 25 year life expectancy of the mines. It would be a worthwhile investment with multiple benefits. If it were to be built out of Yellowknife, in 25 years when the mines are gone, the road will lead to nowhere. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause