Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We in Nunakput would like to express our satisfaction with the progress made on construction of our all-weather access road from Tuktoyaktuk to Source 177.
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Approximately 10 kilometres of the 22-kilometre access route has been completed this winter. The work was completed in high technical standard, in an environmentally sensitive manner, safely and without any major incidents, with the greatest levels of local Inuvialuit employment and business participation. This success was achieved only through close cooperation and excellent working relationships established between the Department of Transportation, the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, local contractors, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and myself.
We believe a cooperative model used before the construction of this access road to be continued on our other highway projects within our region such as the construction of the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik Highway, which leads me to ask the Premier and the Minister of the Department of Transportation to clarify the government’s position with respect to the continuation of this road project. We understand the GNWT Highway Strategy and, in particular, the construction of the Mackenzie Valley Highway remains a high priority for the GNWT. It considers the Mackenzie Valley Highway project among the
highest priorities in discussions for infrastructure funding for the federal government.
We have previously been informed by this government that the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is an integral component of the Mackenzie Valley Highway proposal and the completion remains an essential part of this proposal. However, at times it appears that the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is not being supported or advocated by this government at the same degree as the other NWT road construction projects. Therefore, I would like to ask the Premier and the Minister of Transportation to confirm that the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway remains an important component of the Mackenzie Valley Highway project and the GNWT Highway Strategy and will be pursued for infrastructure funding and priority basis within the GNWT Highway Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.