Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The communities of the Central Mackenzie Valley are not linked to the rest of the NWT and Canada by an all-weather road. Ground access to the Central Mackenzie Valley is only by the winter road season. The federal government, through Public Works Canada did significant work in the 1970s on highway surveys, geotechnical investigations, environmental studies, bridge and culvert designs, through the great recognized Hire North program. The reasons for building the Mackenzie Valley Highway through the Sahtu Settlement Area are the same as when first proposed in the 1960s, as follows:

1. Provide a year-round transportation link connecting the Central Mackenzie Valley as phase 1;

2. Decrease the cost of living by increasing access to good and services;

3. Significantly reduce transportation costs for the government, businesses, and industry;

4. Stimulate local workforce and business development in the resources sector; and

5. Develop hospitality and tourism markets and other businesses and international destination clients.

This project is a mandate of our 18th Legislative Assembly. Preliminary efforts are in the $700 million application and supported by the business case application. The Mackenzie Valley Highway is crucial to unlocking the Sahtu potential and benefits to lowering our dependency on social programming, a combined budget factor of 63 per cent.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, to date a large investment has been made on the route Wrigley North for over 25 bridges and approaches, an amount that exceeds $200 million. Mr. Speaker, I ask: why stop there?

As we know, aside from this pre-construction investment, the phrase "shovel ready" is defined on the $70 million structural section, the BRB, or Bear River Bridge. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted