Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories commends yesterday's announcement by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs to create a pipeline readiness office in Yellowknife. This is an important first step in the federal government's commitment to support the construction of a natural gas pipeline in the Northwest Territories.
DIAND announced $10 million towards the creation of the pipeline readiness office in DIAND's NWT regional office in Yellowknife. It will enhance its capacity to deal with industry, coordinate with other government organizations and work with Northerners. It is our understanding that the pipeline readiness office will have a staff of approximately seven people when up and running.
Minister Nault also announced an additional $6 million for northern boards that will be conducting regulatory reviews for a pipeline application. These funds will assist them in meeting their growing demands, which include increased pipeline planning, environmental assessment and regulatory reviews. In June 2002, these northern boards, along with the National Energy Board, undertook the development of a cooperation plan to coordinate the regulatory reviews of a pipeline application. It is our understanding that a secretariat will be created to provide support services to all signatories of the cooperation plan.
We were also pleased to hear Minister Nault's statement that market forces must decide when and where a pipeline is built, and that he will take that message to Washington. This has been the position of our government for some time.
Mr. Speaker, we were encouraged that the federal Minister made mention of future contributions that will be made by DIAND as well as other government agencies. These funds will assist in the development of our northern resources. To date, our government has been disappointed by the federal government's lack of financial support. We hope that the Minister's statement yesterday indicates a new willingness by the federal government to contribute its fair share. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause