Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to rise today and talk about a project of great importance to the members of my riding, and that is the northern section of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, we endorsed this highway as a priority of the 16th Legislative Assembly and I’d like to

congratulate the department for making significant progress. This summer, in partnership with the Hamlet of Tuk, a 22-kilometre access road to source 177 was completed. Mr. Speaker, the road has already provided considerable benefits to the community and it will become the most northern section of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. The project description report for the proposed highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk was completed this past summer, in partnership between the Hamlet of Tuk and the Town of Inuvik with assistance from the Department of Transportation and the funding from our federal government through CanNor.

Mr. Speaker, I understand the project description report is now being submitted to the Environmental Impact Review Board and is currently under

consideration. This news has been met with great excitement in my riding and I think all across the Territory.

I look forward to continue working with the Assembly to move this project forward and to secure construction funding from the federal government in the near future. It looks like we’ll be having a cup of tea and bannock with Cece McCauley.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.