Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and welcome back, colleagues, to the House.
2018 Highlights in the Sahtu Region: Mr. Speaker, before we start our review of the budget for the upcoming year I want to celebrate some of the highlights of 2018 in the Sahtu. It was great news when Enbridge completed its pipeline repair and Imperial Oil resumed production in Norman Wells.
Mr. Speaker, it has taken decades, but our determined efforts to build the Mackenzie Highway are finally paying off. Last June the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada announced funding totalling $140 million to build a bridge over the Great Bear River near Tulita, construct a 15 kilometre all-season road from Wrigley to Mount Gaudet, and to do environmental and planning studies for future segments of the all-weather road highway.
In October the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated and the Department of Infrastructure agreed to work together to advance the environmental assessment process for the Mackenzie Valley Highway. This road work will bring new opportunities to residents and businesses and deliver government services in the Sahtu at an affordable rate.
At the same time a new era in local healthcare began in September, with the opening of the health centre and long-term care facility in Norman Wells.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to add that the Deline Got'ine Government and the NWT Housing Corporation are working on a community housing strategy that will include a needs analysis and a long-term partnership.
The work we are doing in the Sahtu region fits nicely into our efforts to raise our profile in Canada and around the world. In September the Special Senate Committee on the Arctic visited the Northwest Territories to see first-hand how we are meeting our challenges and opportunities and how Canada can help us do that. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Another positive development is Canada's new Arctic and Northern Policy Framework. Indigenous governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories are working together to make sure that Canada includes the issues that are important to us in the Northwest Territories. This is really critical because it is Canada's way of publicly setting its northern priorities. After all our hard work, we should see a final document from Canada fairly soon. Most of all, I look forward to federal contributions that would flow from it.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the great work being done in the Sahtu and the positive impact it is having on the residents. I know this will continue into 2019, and I look forward to the results and achievements ahead. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.