Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to wade in on the Novel housing subject. I spoke just briefly during consideration of the NWT Housing Corporation budget deliberations. Mr. Speaker, this is what is my perspective, from what I have seen and heard.
As I see it, Imperial Oil and their partners want to build a pipeline. During the construction of that pipeline, they need temporary workforce housing. Traditional practices would see them bring that housing in and take that housing out. The Northwest Territories had the housing shortage. Maybe we could save the pipeline proponents from having to remove their housing.
ATCO Structures is an internationally recognized supplier of workforce housing. ATCO Structures has the capacity to produce all of the workforce housing required for the Mackenzie gas project. ATCO develops and designs a type of workforce housing that can be converted to a conventional home. ATCO presents their design and signs an MOU with NWT Housing Corporation. The Housing Corporation sees a potential use of 700 of the 1,400 housing units and looks for existing and potential housing programs for delivery. The Housing Corporation wants northern value added through training opportunities, participation of northern businesses involved in manufacturing, assembly, transportation and, ultimately, site development and conversion. ATCO is amenable to this approach and the negotiations continue.
Imperial Oil is looking for the best value for their needs and is willing to be convinced of the merits of using a convertible housing model versus conventional workforce housing. By participating, Imperial Oil could fulfil part of its commitment to socio-economic benefits for the North. The Housing Corporation could have access to much-needed housing for northerners. Considerable economy could be created by the conversion of these units to homes in various communities after the pipeline construction.
Fast forward to this week. ATCO Structures has taken a bit of a beating from some Members of this Legislature and ATCO is probably wondering why, since they are willing to recognize the need for significant northern participation. Imperial Oil is probably saying with our permits and agreements in hand, we don't need the permission of the territorial government to proceed with workforce housing in our best interest and in a way that we like.
If the Mackenzie gas project proceeds, there is going to be a demand for workforce housing for further exploration and construction for feeder projects for years to come. Do we have capacity for that in the North? Yes. Hay River already has worksite accommodation/office units being built as we speak. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.