Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I mentioned that the proposed Bathurst Inlet port and road would have a serious economic and environmental impact on the Northwest Territories. I have always felt that my region was overlooked in this government's transportation studies and strategies and I also know that nothing much has happened with these initiatives because of the lack of territorial and federal dollars.

Mr. Speaker, an opportunity is before us to create our own road into the Slave Geological Province and the time to act is now. Mr. Speaker, along with developing our own road into the Slave Geological Province, I think it is critical that we ensure that territorial concerns about the Bathurst Inlet port and road are heard. In my region which is rich in minerals, a gold mining company is looking for all weather roads and the opportunity to access existing hydro power in the Dogrib region. As I've said in the past, I think we need to look at connecting the communities and hydro and the mines. The clock is ticking and we can no longer delay decisions on an all-weather road and hydro activity in our territory.

I realize that a coalition of Northern businesses is currently lobbying the provinces as well as the federal government for infrastructure funding. The problem with this is that this lobbying is based on the Corridors for Canada document. This government document does not benefit or address the opportunities in the Dogrib region. I'm sure that residents within my region would love to have input into creating this road if an independent household survey was done.

As I mentioned yesterday, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs is going to decide in the next month which type of environmental review will be given to the supply routes. I think this government needs to ensure that a federal and environmental review process known as a Part 6 is undertaken and I think we better get moving on our own road to resources through the Dogrib region. This government could make a powerful statement by just putting an all weather road into Wha Ti. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause