Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide Members with a report on work that was done earlier this week in Ottawa in support of the GNWT's Strategic Infrastructure Fund proposal.
On June 12th an NWT delegation, including the Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Charles Dent; the Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. David Krutko; Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce president, Mr. Kelly Hayden; and myself briefed a number of federal Cabinet Ministers on "Corridors for Canada", the GNWT's Strategic Infrastructure Fund proposal.
Federal Ministers we briefed included: Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister, the Honourable John Manley; Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, the Honourable Stephane Dion; Environment Minister, the Honourable David Anderson; and Public Works Minister, the Honourable Ralph Goodale. I also had an opportunity to informally discuss our proposal with the Honourable Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources.
Mr. Speaker, since the start of the lobby in April to inform federal representatives of the Northwest Territories transportation needs and its proposal for federal investments under the Strategic Infrastructure program, the Prime Minister and 20 Cabinet Ministers, committee chairs and senior political officials have been briefed.
The reaction we received on June 12th was most encouraging.
Federal Ministers understand the linkage between Northwest Territories transportation infrastructure improvements and providing a more attractive investment and development climate for our gas and minerals.
We impressed upon Ministers the importance of transportation infrastructure to the quality of life for our residents, better access to services and opportunities, and controlled management of our environment.
We stressed that investments in our transportation infrastructure by Ottawa, industry and the GNWT will accelerate gas and mining developments, which in turn produce revenues for the federal government, jobs and business opportunities for NWT residents and all Canadians, and NWT aboriginal equity in NWT development projects.
Mr. Speaker, we were also encouraged that reports of a deal on project funding are premature and unfounded. The Honourable John Manley reported that the federal Cabinet has not yet made all of the necessary program mandate decisions and that federal officials have yet to begin work on assessing project submissions.
In closing, I want to thank Mr. Dent, Mr. Krutko and Mr. Hayden for their valuable support on this trip. As always, our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, was there to provide strategic advice and support through the week at the meetings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.