Mr. Speaker, Canada as a whole has moved a long way on the environment since we presented the 2016-17 budget, including the development of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Climate Change. Over the next year, we will continue to work with the rest of Canada to ensure the success of this pan-Canadian initiative while recognizing the unique challenges for our territorial economy and environment.

We have extended the funding of almost $2.1 million for trans-boundary water management agreements under the Water Stewardship Strategy and Action Plan and propose adding $82,000 to expand the hydrometric network program. We are continuing $253,000 in funding for permafrost research and development.

We are also proposing to use $130,000 in this budget to fund an Unmanned Aircraft Systems Coordinator. This small investment will help GNWT departments expand their environmental and infrastructure monitoring capabilities at a reduced cost and use this more accurate and comprehensive information to improve decision-making and knowledge sharing.

Budget 2017-18 includes $15.3 million in various initiatives that will assist in developing the economy, including almost $14 million for operations for the Mackenzie Valley Fibre-Optic Link project. This critical piece of infrastructure is expected to be completed this winter and is already providing interim services that are improving internet capacity for residents, businesses, and government in communities along the route and providing a critical link between the expanding satellite stations located in Inuvik and the rest of the world.

We need fresh ideas and energy to build a more diversified economy, and the 18th Legislative Assembly mandate supports this need, in part, through its goal to increase the number of immigrants working and investing in the NWT. We are proposing to support an immigration strategy that improves the application process, increases awareness of immigration programs, and combines administrative supports through a $132,000 investment to fund an Investment and Immigration Officer position dedicated to support the Northwest Territories Nominee Program.

We also propose to spend more to maintain the quality of services we provide to our growing tourism industry, with $132,000 in additional resources for a North Slave Tourism Development Officer. Over the past years, the North Slave region has added 15 new tour operators because of increased demand, especially from the adventure travellers who want to experience winter activity in our pristine environments.

As always, we need transportation infrastructure to connect our communities and help keep our economy on the move. While the 2017-18 investments in transportation infrastructure are part of the Capital Estimates approved last October, the operation and maintenance of our infrastructure investments is a significant part of this budget. We propose to provide an additional $698,000 for increased costs related to the Fort Simpson Region Highway and Winter Road contracts; $298,000 for the operation and maintenance of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, which is scheduled to begin operation later this year; and the remaining amount of the $182,000 invested over three years for construction and maintenance of the Wekweeti winter road.

The Assembly has included completion of an all-season road from Highway No. 3 to Whati in its mandate. With the recent federal announcement to fund a portion of the Tlicho All-Season Road through their P3 Canada Fund, our government intends to move forward as quickly as possible on this initiative. The Tlicho All-Season Road will provide the benefits of year-round access to the highway corridor for Whati residents and increases the potential for resource development in the area. In the near term, this important piece of infrastructure will provide an economic boost for local employment and business opportunities.