Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week, my colleague, Mr. Pokiak, spoke about an Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk highway. This is an excellent idea that has been around for a long time and should have become a reality years ago. I would like, Mr. Speaker, to expand on that idea. In fact, I'd like to expand on it all the way down the Mackenzie Valley. With all the development that is taking place, especially with the Mackenzie gas pipeline project, now is the opportune time to look at a road that would connect us. This, of course, would directly benefit Tuktoyaktuk and the Sahtu, but other NWT communities will also profit from the highway.
Tourism, Mr. Speaker. There are many tourists who take the drive up the Dempster Highway to Inuvik and have no
choice but to turn around and go back the same way they came. I have spoken to many of these people and they have told me that they would love to have the chance to make a northern loop and drive back down the Mackenzie Valley instead. The route would take them right through Wrigley and Fort Simpson, with short detours to Fort Providence and Hay River, and access the Liard Highway, Fort Smith, Rae Edzo and Yellowknife. All these communities would benefit from the increased traffic.
Mr. Speaker, many people from the Beaufort-Delta travel to Whitehorse to shop big-ticket items like furniture, electronics and pick-up trucks. That's already a lot of money leaving our territory. With the population increase we're going to see in the regions with all the oil and gas development, there will be even more to lose. With a highway down the Mackenzie Valley, I am sure more people would order supplies or come to Yellowknife and Hay River for their shopping.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great opportunity we have here for the long-term benefits of almost every community in the territory. We shouldn't be scared to think big. Resource developers sure aren't or they wouldn't be planning the massive pipeline project and diamond mines. It's time for this government to adopt some of that mentality and see the potential out there and build a legacy project. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause