Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on what we thought was an emerging market in our territory, a chance at a new innovative economy, an economy our government was very proactive in nurturing and has invested heavily in public infrastructure to support it. Instead, Mr. Speaker, the federal government appears once again to be impeding our economic ambitions.
Mr. Speaker, I am talking about the remote sensing satellite facilities in Inuvik, the satellite antenna sites that dot the Inuvik skyline, which many of my colleagues have toured, but today remain idle and unlicensed by the Government of Canada. It has been two years since Kongsberg Satellite Services of Norway and Planet of the USA invested millions of dollars to locate to Inuvik to complement the existing federal satellite site.
Mr. Speaker, recently Prime Minister Trudeau was in San Francisco praising Canada's progressive approach to attracting the global technology sector, but it seems nothing could be further from the truth. Other competitive jurisdictions license remote sensing facilities in as little as 30 to 60 days. Canada's lengthy, outdated approach is jeopardizing our future.
Mr. Speaker, our government has invested over $100 million in fibre optic infrastructure down the Mackenzie Valley, and even more into ongoing operating costs. We know this investment would not have been possible without support from the satellite industry in Inuvik.
Inuvik, with its unique geographic location above the Arctic Circle and full community amenities, makes it the optimal destination for remote sensing in Canada. In the last two years, a small private satellite facility constructed seven satellite antennas and is hopeful for many more to come. This is an exciting opportunity for Inuvik and the NWT, but with applications taking up to two years to process in Ottawa, it could end up economically devastating to our territory. Some within the satellite industry are already advising antenna developers to not apply in Canada due to the lengthy and arduous process to get approval.
Mr. Speaker, we have built the fibre optic line. We are investing in enhancing our geomatics centre to become participants in this rapidly growing sector. All of the proactive work by this government is at risk because of the federal government's inability to provide certainty for this industry and its future.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.