Mr. Speaker, this project, along the Mackenzie Valley highway from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk, should be our legacy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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We should lock all the parties in the same room until they can reach an agreement that will work for everyone.

I do not believe this project is doomed, contrary to what some people think; however, we have lived without this pipeline for years and we'll survive without it, but with so much at stake, we have to think of our children and grandchildren and we must help pave the way for their future.

Even the NWT can't get a deal like that.

The North has a lot to offer in the way of resources, and everyone is entitled to a good deal that will work for us all. A few leaders in the NWT, our Premier included, know that this project should allow us to be independent and are trying to move it forward.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've been hearing talk of the pipeline for a long time and, as one of my colleagues asked this morning, what pipeline? It's time to quit talking, Mr. Speaker, and time to get working. Most people in the NWT stand to benefit from the construction of the pipeline, but now it seems that the project is running into one delay after another while everyone tries to think of what they can ask for next. The problem is, Mr. Speaker, that there are many excessive demands from all parties, and this is preventing the project from moving ahead and we may never see a pipeline.

There are many young people along the valley attending or planning to attend school for training to take advantage of any potential job opportunities from construction of the pipeline. As a result, many positions will be filled by well-trained and qualified northerners who are not just hired to fill a quota.

Mr. Speaker, there are many businesses along the valley that have already planned and prepared for the pipeline by increasing their capacity to absorb the potential workload. It is unfortunate, however, that the future of the pipeline still seems uncertain, and all the time, money and energy in preparing may be lost. Claimant groups are demanding to be compensated for crossing their traditional lands. I firmly believe that these groups should be compensated by the proponents of the pipeline and by the federal government. This land is their inheritance and they should not sell their birthright for a morsel of food.

People are and will be paid big bucks to negotiate on the claimant groups' behalf, so they will continue to benefit while many of their people live day to day. Many groups have formed joint ventures with some of the companies, and they will benefit from the construction of the pipeline. We even have a one-third share in the pipeline itself.

The proponents have asked for concessions on the money they plan to spend. They have potential revenues of $40 billion, yet they want the Government of Canada to give them a break. I say come on, give us a break.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Minister for that. So the Minister is saying that he is working with the DECs and he has instructed his department to come up with backup plans in each community. Is that correct? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my statement, I talked about the students' perspective and the whole thing going on with Samuel Hearne. One of the comments the students made was they were wondering if there was a backup plan or why there was no backup plan. So my question today is for the Minister of Education, Mr. Dent. I would like to ask Mr. Dent if there are backup plans in each community in case something happens to the school. If not, why not? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the second day in a row I rise to speak about the Samuel Hearne Secondary School. Today I want to talk about the students' perspective and some of the things that they are saying. A few students have said that they don't mind using the college for classrooms because it prepares them for life after high school. One student wonders why the pilings were not repaired over the two-month summer break. She thinks the school should be knocked down and replaced before it knocks itself down. One young lady in her final year is worried whether her younger brother and sister will have a safe and healthy learning environment.

Mr. Speaker, the high school years should be some of the best young people have growing up before they head out into the real world. We have let our students down because we're not keeping the school safe, because people responsible for safety were not doing their job. The same people are still working and making decisions today.

Mr. Speaker, this situation is ridiculous. With all the construction going on around these students, many of them should have their trades tickets by now. Mr. Speaker, I'll say again that this government has let our students down. They should be enjoying their youth in a normal school, not worrying about whether it's going to fall down around them. I want to see this government live up to its obligation to fix the situation as soon as possible and make sure this never happens again in Inuvik or any other NWT community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, when foyers collapse and foundations fail, someone has to be held responsible. Would the Minister give parents, students and teachers some reassurance that their school will be safe when it reopens and indicate whether he has or plans to order an internal investigation to find out who is responsible and what needs to be done to prevent failures like this again? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Public Works and Services. We have seen newspaper reports that Samuel Hearne was going to be open later in the month. I want to ask the Minister the question that is on everyone's mind in Inuvik: When will the school reopen so that teachers and parents can get on with their year? Thank you.