Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our territorial economy has suffered the impact of COVID-19 like every other jurisdiction in the country. Bouncing back stronger means investing in areas that provide for the immediate participation of our communities and maximizing benefits for our residents. Investments and improvements in transportation infrastructure is one of the areas we know can have positive impacts on our economy. These investments connect our communities and ensure access to essential goods and services.

Regular maintenance of the Northwest Territories highway system creates the safest possible driving conditions, increases our territory's resiliency to climate change, and creates employment and training opportunities for residents.

Mr. Speaker, we can expect another busy construction season this summer. In fact, a total of $110 million in improvements will be made to our highway systems this year.

In the South Slave Region, rehabilitation work is planned for Highway No. 1 on 18 kilometers of highway. This work will include highway widening, replacing culverts and replacing chip seal. This will be part of a multi-year project, with work expected to be completed by September 2023.

On Highway No. 5, work is currently underway to repair chip seal surface on a 6-kilometer section of the highway, which will be followed by a granular crushing program this summer.

In the North Slave, Mr. Speaker, crews have already resumed work on the Tlicho Highway. Construction is on schedule to be completed this fall - with 52 kilometers left to be surfaced, one last bridge to be completed. This two-lane gravel highway will provide year-round access from Northwest Territories Highway No. 3 to the community access road to Whati. This year 168 kilometers of Highway No. 3 will be chip sealed and two kilometers of rehabilitation work will take place. This work will include right-of-way clearing, roadway strengthening, culvert replacement, and line painting, and is to be expected to be completed this fall. Residents will see construction zone signs along the highway where crews will be resurfacing the road, stockpiling materials, and conducting asphalt and chip seal repairs.

On Highway No. 4, the Ingraham Trail, roughly 5 kilometers will be rehabilitated. Work will include repair dips, widening the embankment, replacing culverts and chip sealing.

On Highway No. 6, the Fort Resolution Highway, chip sealing will be carried out roughly 20 kilometers.

In the Deh Cho Region, rehabilitation work will take place this summer on Highway No. 7, the Liard Highway. Crews will focus on widening the embankment and replacing culverts. This work is expected to be completed in September 2023.

Mr. Speaker, in our area, in the Beaufort Delta Region, some construction will take place on Highway No. 8, the Dempster Highway. The rehabilitation work including embankment, widening, and brush clearing will take place along three to four kilometers along the highway. Additionally, the marine bypass highway widening will also take place along the 3-kilometer highway.

As temperatures rise and construction season begins, I would like to thank dozens of dedicated workers who are maintaining and improving our highways every day. Your work is essential in the North. I would also like to remind drivers to watch for highway crews, slow down in construction zones and obey signs. I want all our Infrastructure employees and our contractor employees to return home safe to their families.

Mr. Speaker, the government will continue to work closely with our public and private sector so we can continue to build a transportation network that meets the current needs of our citizens and the needs of generations to come. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.