Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whenever we gather in this House, I raise the cost of living pressures facing my constituents. They are looking to this Assembly for action and for my people in Lutselk'e, that means a serious examination of winter road access between their community and Yellowknife. Yet year after year, their voices are ignored. This call to action has only become more urgent. Costs continue to rise as tariffs and fuel prices hit our small communities the hardest. And by leaving practical options for relief on the table, this government effectively telling my constituents they must continue to bear the brunt of the affordability crisis regardless how severe it becomes. And Lutselk'e, Mr. Speaker, receives fuel twice a year and the community of Lutselk'e will pay the high price for the one year.

But this is no longer just a cost of living issue. Across Canada, governments are focused on supply chain resilience, economic security, and Arctic sovereignty. Yet, the lack of interest in connecting Lutselk'e to our northern transportation network shows these priorities are not applied consistently, leaving my communities on the outside this nation building agenda despite our land and resources being positioned as the foundation of Canada's future growth.

Lutselk'e is the gateway to Thaidene National Park, one of Canada's most significant protected areas. Improved winter road access would reduce supply chains, lower costs, and help the community capture economic opportunity in guiding, outfitting, cultural tourism, and local business. An interest in the eastern region of Great Slave Lake grows, including documented mineral potential. There is a need for early structure planning so that we are proactive rather than reactive. Early stage of study would work, ensure that the community can assess and engage with future opportunities on its own terms with proper information from the onset. This is the kind of nation building infrastructure that should be prioritized across the North, especially now that affordability has been recognized as central to prosperity, security. Yet, the Minister, I brought this forward, and it was refused to do the study and then the absence of evidence and reasons for this inaction, all the while the costs of living prices worsen in my community. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Members. Thank you, colleagues. This is why I am calling on the government to meet with the chief and council of Lutselk'e to talk about the potential commitment to do a PE feasibility study for the winter road to Lutselk'e in the fall business planning session. I ask the Minister -- I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.