Thank you, Madam Speaker. I'm going to sound like a bit of a broken record here. However, I feel that my concerns are falling on deaf ears as I review the infrastructure plan for the upcoming year. Earlier in this sitting, I spoke about the need for funds to rehabilitate the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway.

On November 15^th, the ITH, as it is commonly referred to, will mark three years of being open to the public. The first year saw an unexpected boon to local tourism seeing an unprecedented number of visitors camping and biking this scenic ribbon of connectivity that finally links southern Canada to our third ocean, the Arctic. In July, Madam Speaker, you will recall that you and I had the opportunity to drive the ITH up to Tuktoyaktuk, and I have to say that what I saw was shocking, considering the relatively young age of the highway. In some places, the highway sits flush with the surrounding environment, the gravel fill having migrated onto the neighbouring tundra, giving one the impression of a flattened pancake. In other places, drainage channels mark erosion in the embankments, particularly concerning in the areas surrounding bridges and culverts. The pullouts are pull-offs, and there appears to be none of the scenic viewpoints I recall there once being an RFP issued for.

Most concerning though to someone of my background, geological engineering, are the areas of ponded or standing water on the sides of the highway. Speaking to any northern engineer or geologist and we know that ponded water is the kiss of death for permafrost, a key component for the stability of the ITH. Madam Speaker, why did we go to all the expense of creating an entire highway constructed of fill in order to protect the permafrost if we were going to skimp on materials and allow its degradation only three years after the project was completed?

When I spoke earlier in this session, the Minister was glad I was advocating for infrastructure in her region, but this is not just a regional issue. It's one that affects all parts of the Northwest Territories. This is about our connections, our corridors, our means of mobilizing within our territory. Every year, as the climate changes, we will see less and less reliability on our frozen infrastructure and increasing need to build and maintain permanent highways. This makes it even more imperative that we protect and maintain our existing assets better as every year that we don't the costs will only rise exponentially, and, Madam Speaker, that is not something we can afford. I will have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure at the appropriate time. Thank you.