Mr. Speaker, one of the more exciting development opportunities highlighted this year was the Northwest Territories' vast hydroelectric generation potential. The Northwest Territories possesses large hydro resources. Parties such as the Northwest Territories Power Corporation have undertaken engineering and market research studies. However, recent events have put a much different economic light on the development of this potential.

With the effects of deregulation in some provinces and states, with increased environmental restrictions on the production of electrical energy by the burning of fossil fuels, and with large industrial developments increasing electrical demand, it appears that Northwest Territories hydro resources could be delivered to an energy hungry market on an economic basis.

Although much work needs to be done to confirm and realize this hydro development potential, the possible fiscal yield to Northwest Territories governments demands that we move aggressively to flesh out this opportunity. In our continuous struggle to meet the growing needs and demands of our population, the Northwest Territories' hydro resources may provide some desperately needed and environmentally responsible relief.

During the early part of 2001-2002 we will need to invest in the legal, financial and engineering work necessary to determine whether our hydro resources do indeed offer the economic benefits we need and whether they can be developed in a manner that results in substantial returns to the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, this budget lays out an ambitious program. It has been built with advice from Members, aboriginal and community leaders, representatives of industry and social groups and the public. We are confident this program can be achieved.

The Northwest Territories has immense potential, but there is a lot to be done to maximize the benefits to our residents. I believe it is only a matter of time before everyone recognizes this potential, as well as the needs. It is only a matter of time before residents of the Northwest Territories are given full control over their future, control that residents of the other provinces take for granted.

However, we cannot wait for others to come to this realization. The time for action is now. To take a timid approach to development and economic growth would be a mistake. The opportunities we have today may not be there tomorrow. Together with our aboriginal partners, with the federal government, with community leaders and with industry and business, we can achieve our vision of a prosperous and vigorous Northwest Territories.

We are investing today in a better tomorrow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Handley. Colleagues, we will shortly be taking a short break so we can join the Minister in the Great Hall so the Minister can meet the public. Also, today we are celebrating our national flag with the Northwest Territories Celebrate Canada Day Committee. After the Minister's briefing in the Great Hall, I hope that you will join with the Celebrate Canada Day Committee for the celebration that they have planned for us at approximately 3:00 p.m. This House will reconvene at the sound of the bell. I hope that you will return to a very energetic day. This House will take a short recess.

-- Break

The House will come back to order. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, we received a package from the NWT Council for Disabled Persons. In this package are many letters. The one that I reviewed struck me as very similar to what a parent is going through in Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, this parent, Mrs. Geri Sharpe-Staples, has taken her concerns to the people. She put a petition out and asked the people of Inuvik to sign it. Mr. Speaker, 622 people signed the petition. The petition asks the government to support them with resources, resources that would see an education psychologist, a speech therapist and more training for program assistance in Inuvik.

I hope this government will take this request seriously as I table this petition later today. I look forward to the response they will bring forward. Hopefully, it will be a timely one. In light of all the news of extra spending happening here in the Northwest Territories by this government, I am sure they can find some of those resources to ensure that parents and children in the Inuvik region have the proper resources to ensure they can take advantage of our education system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize in the gallery today my wife Theresa; my son-in-law Ron sitting behind her, also the chairperson for the board for the Council for the Status of Women; and the new executive director for the Status of Women, Barb Founders.

-- Applause

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the son of a former colleague and friend, Mr. Roy Erasmus. His son Cody is working for us in the Chamber today as a page. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister responsible for Transportation. It is regarding the possibility of a feasibility study to look at the possibility of a bridge on the Peel River.

Back in 1981, the Inuvik Chamber of Commerce looked at an engineering firm out of Edmonton to consider the possibility of looking at a feasibility study to see the practicality of building a bridge and what the cost was. Back then, to do the study would have cost somewhere in the range of $20,000.

From the preliminary results that came back from the engineering firm, they were estimating the cost of this bridge for one lane was somewhere around $2 million, and a two-lane was somewhere in the range of $4 million, with a life expectancy expected to be somewhere between ten and 15 years.

At that time, that was the report. I have been trying to get the Department of Transportation to see what is the possibility of doing highway studies. My question to the Minister is, will the Minister consider conducting an evaluation or a feasibility study to see what the actual cost would be for a bridge across the Peel River?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure we can include that in our studies, along with or in line with our Highway Strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the Highway Strategy, this is something that is not currently part of the Highway Strategy. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider doing this as a separate item. Right now, we have been able to receive funds from the federal government to look at bridges in the Mackenzie system. Could the Minister treat this under the same emphasis that they were able to access money from the Department of Indian Affairs?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that all of the river crossings in the highway system are part of the Highway Strategy, although they are further down the line that they may not be identified directly in the strategy itself. For instance, I believe the crossing at Fort Providence is in the strategy but it shows up further down the line. The department is doing, if they have not already done some feasibility studies on these particular crossings, they would be doing them in relation to the total cost of bringing those highways into full production standards.

As to the possibility of bringing this towards further discussions with Indian Affairs for funding, I would have to take that into consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider allocating funds to do preliminary studies to look at the feasibility of building a bridge across the Peel River?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as far as committing to putting money directly towards a feasibility study separate from the overall Highway Strategy, it is a little difficult for me to answer to at this time. However, I will pass that on to the department to see what we can do with this request and I will get back to the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.