Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the dream of a "road to resources" in the North first became part of the national conversation about 70 years ago. It was a dream of economic growth, prosperity and wealth, jobs, and comfortable lifestyles for all Canadians.

Back then, Canada was a very different country. Today, Mr. Speaker, we are resolving land rights and building Indigenous partnerships. We know about climate change and the urgency of reducing our carbon emissions. We know it is essential to manage any resource development responsibly and respectfully.

Something that has not changed, Mr. Speaker, is our need for economic growth. Our early economy largely grew from gold mining. In this century, diamonds have been our biggest economic driver. Unlike our gold mines, our diamond mines were developed within an environmental plan, and a restoration strategy built in.

In the 18th Assembly, we have focused significant energy on the need to grow new economic sectors, but in our economic discussions, we always come back to one fact. For the jobs we need now to build the health centres and schools we need now to afford junior kindergarten and social supports and care for elders that we need now, we can rely on one sector: mining.

That's why I'm speaking today about the road to resources, Mr. Speaker. Specifically, the road to the Slave Geological Province. Just outside our backdoor, the Slave Geological Province is formed of Archean age rock. Around the world, this kind of rock is known to host deposits of diamonds, gold, silver, copper, zinc, and many more important minerals.

From our back door, the Slave Geological Province extends up through Nunavut all the way to the Arctic Ocean. This resource-rich area has the potential to create wealth for us and our sister territory and ultimately to grow into a new national corridor of opportunity for this country.

Any development brings risks and challenges, Mr. Speaker, and we must manage them with our best knowledge and proven practices, but the benefits to our communities and to future generations rely on us to take bold steps and build on our opportunities. Mr. Speaker, the dream started 70 years ago. Let's make it a reality today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.