WHEREAS there is a longstanding need for the communities of Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk to have roads to access nearby gravel sources and to allow for future infrastructure such as lagoons and water sources;

AND WHEREAS the community of Tuktoyaktuk urgently requires gravel to address shoreline erosion;

AND WHEREAS the community of Aklavik experienced severe flooding in 2006 and continues to be at high risk for severe floods in the future;

AND WHEREAS repairs to Aklavik’s community roads following the 2006 flood came at significant cost and after lengthy delay due to the need to transport gravel from Inuvik;

AND WHEREAS investment in access to local sources of gravel is consistent with the Government’s infrastructure priorities of protection of people and assets and would avoid the substantial costs of transporting gravel from distant sources;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has announced new infrastructure funding for provinces and territories over the next seven years through the Building Canada Plan;

NOW THEREFORE I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories make the construction of access roads to gravel sources for the communities of Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk priority projects under the new Building Canada plan funding;

AND FURTHER, that should the construction of these access roads not meet the criteria for the Building Canada plan funding that the Government of the Northwest Territories make these projects priorities in its infrastructure acquisition plan.