Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s hard not to get caught up in the emotional drama when the word “fracking” is discussed. Ultimately, the well has been poisoned long ago by both extreme views of ideology and science.

We cannot afford to walk away from our economic duties as newfound stewards of the land, and we cannot ignore the economic potential from responsible resource development our territory has to offer. Yes, we can all agree there are risks, as all large-scale human activities have them, which is why we must subject ourselves to the highest

degree of environmental integrity to the objective of efficient, smart and transparent resource development.

As a Member of this House, I have a fiduciary duty and obligation to all Northerners to protect our land, water and resources from unwarranted and adverse effects, yet I am equally bound to support the extraordinary value creation this economic NWT sphere can provide in basic necessities for its people.

As a member of the Standing Committee on Social Programs, I have witnessed first-hand our social umbrella expand to greater deficits without any economic balance. Consequently, in order to achieve this balance in society, we need to look at opportunities in investment and growth within a diversified, environmentally sound economy. Therefore, we must continue and support this comprehensive public engagement that is occurring within our government’s regulatory authority and support any form of so-called bans or moratoriums goes directly against the premise of gathering this important knowledge.

This is a very complex issue with polarizing views, and in the end there are no winners, only survivors of moral opinion. Thank you.