Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to speak about an annual event taking place in Inuvik between June 16th and 19th, I believe, Mr. Speaker. Of course I am talking about the annual Arctic Development Expo. This is the 25th annual this year. It started back in 2001 as the Inuvik Petroleum Show, as we knew it then, when it was first started, when there was still the light at the end of the tunnel for the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline led by the Aboriginal Pipeline Group and from that started the Inuvik Petroleum Show. And then in -- I think it was in 2019 is when they transitioned from the petroleum show. After we -- our regulatory system, as I've stated before, slowly choked the life out of that project, we moved it to the Arctic Development Expo.

So, again, it's the 25th annual, and for the first time since the transition they're expecting over 250 attendees. And I believe, Mr. Speaker, last year there was about 100 attendees at the show. Back when it was the petroleum show, we had up to 700, 800 folks come to Inuvik to attend. So very exciting.

And obviously that's on the heels of the announcements of what's happening with the DND funding, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, and all the other major projects in the area. Of course, as we've said, there is an eye on the Arctic right now, Mr. Speaker.

So I am told this year they're at over 300 registered delegates and still counting. So very exciting. I am happy to say that our Premier and our Cabinet will be attending, will be sitting on some panels up there, Mr. Speaker, and we look forward to that.

The demand, once again, is so high. As done previously, they're bringing in barge camps and setting them up on the river and setting up buses to bring folks back and forth. And also, Mr. Speaker, we're looking at 62 trade show booths in total right now with 55 exhibitors, main industries up there this year representing construction, infrastructure, transportation, as well as local Indigenous, territorial, and federal governments.

And of note as well, the department of defence, DND, are organizing a business to business session during the expo on June 17th from 3 to 4 p.m., which I expect will be very well attended.

So a big congratulations to the amazing staff up there that put this on every year. It's not easy to do. Those of you who have been there before, know what I am talking about; it is an amazing show. And those of you who are attending this year, I look forward to seeing you up there and I look forward to another great event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.