Let me be as clear as I can be – and I’ve mentioned it before – without the use of hydraulic fracking, there will be no development in the Sahtu, there will be no jobs or opportunities. That is why it’s critically important that we get this right. I know other Members have mentioned this; we can’t afford to get it wrong. We have to do everything we can, and certainly from the inception of the development, the activity that’s taken place in the Sahtu, this government has taken that opportunity very seriously. We’ve met a number of times. I know through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, we’ve had readiness sessions in the area. We’ve also had
community sessions. We’ve done a lot of upfront work. I know I’ve impressed upon all of Cabinet what the opportunities are there, and I know we’re working as a team to ensure that we’re doing our best to get ready for what is coming.
We have to allow the exploration, the drilling of some of these wells to get a better determination of what is in the ground in the Sahtu, and certainly a lot of industry experts believe there are billions of barrels of oil in the ground in the central Mackenzie Valley and we need to let that happen so that we can get to a point where companies can make a decision and the people of the Northwest Territories can make a decision on whether or not we’re going to develop that resource.
We’re a ways away from that determination on the commercial viability of that resource play, but we certainly have been doing a lot to get ready, and we will continue to work with the Member and the communities in the Sahtu to ensure that we are getting ready for that development. Thank you.