Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.
On the news this morning there was more speculation about the Alaska pipeline and the
Mackenzie gas pipeline taking a major sidelining to the proposals and thoughts that are out there now on serving North American markets through liquefied natural gas. It seems an alternative. When it looked like there was a possibility for the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline, we criticized this government heavily on the front of being prepared because we said when the diamonds were coming to the Northwest Territories, we didn’t get out ahead of it. We weren’t prepared.
So now, when the natural gas is coming, we encouraged our government to get involved right from the outset. Get people in positions; let’s be prepared. The government, in response to those requests, did so. Now we have people working in almost all departments, working on pipeline readiness.
In fact, I’d like to know how we are going to address all that build-up of expertise, planning and personnel should the pipeline not proceed at this time. The Mackenzie Gas Project offices have already been closed. What is the signal to the government by this other information coming forward on alternatives to our pipeline?