Mr. Speaker, I would like to report on the successful completion of a project in the Sahtu region; the construction of the Tulita bypass on the Mackenzie Valley winter road.

The winter road was originally constructed for community resupply and intercommunity travel. Quite naturally, it followed a route through town. In the early years, traffic was light and presented no serious concerns. However, as volumes increased, especially heavy truck traffic associated with the oil and gas industry, residents of Tulita expressed legitimate concerns about safety. At the same time, the motor carrier industry also began to raise issues about negotiating the narrow streets and steep riverbank.

During the spring of 2005, in response to the growing concerns, Department of Transportation officials held a series of public meetings to discuss and develop the Tulita bypass. In consultation with community leaders and residents, several routes were identified. A departure point from the winter road located approximately two kilometres east of the community was deemed the most practical. By March 2006, construction of the Tulita bypass had begun.

The construction of the Tulita bypass was enabled through the federal government's cost-shared Canada strategic infrastructure fund and the ongoing Mackenzie Valley Winter Road Grade Improvement Program. This program also funded the construction of a bypass route at Norman Wells, a similar project that was initiated as a result of safety concerns expressed by the community.

I am pleased to announce that the Tulita bypass is now open. Through-traffic moving up and down the valley is routed around the community. Only local traffic now enters Tulita.

Mr. Speaker, this project has truly been a joint effort of the community and the Department of Transportation. Community leaders and residents were consulted during all stages of the project, from the initial identification of the need to the completion of construction. Community members were involved in selecting the most suitable location for this bypass, participated in the regulatory process and assisted the department in securing the necessary permits to start this project. And finally, it was a local contractor that constructed the bypass. I would like to thank everyone from Tulita who was involved in this process.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to acknowledge the effort and support of the MLA for the Sahtu, Mr. Norman Yakeleya...