Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Going over the Sessional Statement from Premier Roland, for myself, I’m in favour of the Mackenzie gas pipelines. I know everybody says it’s a boom-and-bust cycle, but for myself and the people of Nunakput and the Beaufort-Delta, we rely on the oil and gas industry, as the south relies on the diamond mines.
The position I’m coming from is in regard to more jobs for the people. Tuk becoming a deep-sea port is possible — as many as 300 jobs almost year-round for a community of 1,000 people who are affected by the high cost of living, housing issues. Give our people in the Beaufort-Delta a chance to come on stream like Yellowknife has done, and give us the opportunity to go forward with the deep-sea port.
There are so many issues. That’s just a comment I had. And reducing the cost of living for elders. Managing our land. Permafrost is melting. My community of Tuk is reduced to the point of being washed away in any west wind we have now. That’s a real concern to me and has to be looked at again.
My access road — an access road to gravel, but a back door for my community in the hamlet of Tuk, for safety and to get all the necessities. I always say to any of the people I talk to, “If you give me my access road, you’re not going to be hearing too much from me.” Help us, and we’ll help you on a go-forward basis.