Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about the completing the Mackenzie Valley Highway. In 1972, the federal government announced they were going to build a highway from Fort Simpson to the Dempster in four years. I believe that it is time to focus our government’s and the federal government’s efforts to achieve these goals once again. The Mackenzie Highway was constructed to a few kilometres south of Wrigley. When construction stopped in 1977, only 210 kilometres had been completed. More than 800 kilometres of road remains to be completed to take the highway north to the Dempster and add the remaining link to Tuktoyaktuk.

One of the reasons that I am interested in the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway is because this will provide much needed economic stimulus to our North and provide a transportation loop that will encourage tourism and tourism-related businesses to develop and expand.

Another reason is that the communities in my riding of Nahendeh will benefit greatly from these increased traffic volumes and if we follow the plan from the Connecting Canada proposal, a new bridge will be constructed and allow us year-round mobility to points south.

I would urge our government to work with our aboriginal groups to develop a unique and joint strategy for Ottawa to show that the North can and will work together for everyone’s benefit. To date the lobbying efforts in Ottawa has been led largely by a Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Corporation and the Denendeh Development Corporation.

The Mackenzie Valley Highway can bring real benefits to northern communities, helping them lower the cost of living, improve their access to other NWT communities and assist with economic development. I quote from our Connecting Canada Highway Proposal. “Connecting Canada is crucial to the socio-economic future of Canada.” For my constituents and I, the completion of this highway is an important project, a legacy that will span from one generation to the next. So, once again, I urge our government to take the lead on this project which everyone supports. Like Obama, Mr. Speaker, we must be leaders and inspire our people with hope and positive change. Mahsi cho.