Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.] Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my Member's statement I spoke about Avalon, a company that owns rare earths deposits at Thor Lake. Today I wish to expand on my statement and talk about the benefits of building an all-season road that would run from Ingraham Trail to Thor Lake.
Mr. Speaker, the all-season road I speak of does not necessarily have to be one of an NWT highway standard. It can be designed to a haul-road standard, for example. Even a road of this standard will help the mining company to attract investors and will be a project that can be completed working in conjunction with members of YK Dene First Nations. Furthermore, it would be a road that could be used by people travelling from Lutselk'e or to Lutselk'e and further to the east arm of the Great Slave Lake.
I spoke to an elder from Yellowknives Dene, and he saw some employment opportunities right away. He thought that, once a road was constructed, there would be a need for security for the equipment that is left behind when people are travelling, and security that could eventually lead to a working relationship in the security area with the mine.
Mr. Speaker, during the construction of this road there will be multiple years' worth of employment opportunities for Northerners. Once completed, there will be other opportunities for maintaining the road. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, a right-of-way will be established by the road, but in addition to road construction there is also potential for hydropower transmission lines to Nechalacho, which would connect the project to a clean, low-cost source of energy. This, however, would require an expansion of transmission lines from the existing Bluefish hydro dam.
Mr. Speaker, there can even be a dock built on the shore of the Great Slave Lake, just a few kilometres away from Thor Lake.
Mr. Speaker, an all-season road to Thor Lake would have many benefits, more than I can mention in a short Member's statement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.