Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the town of Inuvik was designated as a northern operational support hub in March 2025 by the Department of National Defence federal minister. The western Arctic location of Inuvik makes it a strategic Arctic security and sovereignty location to monitor and defend Canada's Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, the 3,000-foot extension to the Inuvik runway will make Inuvik the most strategic northern operational support hub for the Royal Canadian Airforce and other NORAD partners. Mr. Speaker, make no mistake, this is a great news story, something we need to celebrate.

Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I'm glad to hear the Minister talk about bringing down the cost of energy supply, Mr. Speaker. We know we have what's happening in Taltson and other areas. Can the Minister confirm that included in that and what it will mean for the new LNG energy supply being created in the Beaufort Delta and what she anticipates that impact will have on the energy consumption in that area or energy in general. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the creation of a new Northwest Territories Power Corporation board announced, the board now no longer has a board made up of just deputy ministers but qualified members of the public. Could the Minister responsible please talk about when or what impact this Minister now sees on this having on the power corporation, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I understand originally in the original plan that the paving of the runway, which has now been complete -- the runway itself is constructed. I know there's some ditching required to be done still. Paving was originally scheduled for 2026. I understand that that paving now has been delayed to 2027, possibly later. Can the Minister speak to why there's delay in the paving project? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize two constituents today. First Mr. Todd Orvitz. Todd Orvitz was recently the appointee for the accountability and oversight committee on the after-action review, and now, Mr. Speaker, he's working with Northwind Industries. Speaking of Northwind Industries, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Mr. Kurt Wainman, the owner and CEO of Northwind Industries and currently doing the work on the runway project in partnership with the Indigenous governments as well as EGT out of Tuktoyaktuk. And, Mr. Speaker, that is the company I was...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move the chair rise and report progress.

Thank you. And I appreciate that. And since the Minister brought it up, I will point out that the 1900 obviously has a larger capacity than the Twin Otter. As well, the Twin Otters don't run as much in the fall and wintertimes. They're typically used more for charter work than they are for passenger and cargo work. So that Twin Otter is not always available to get in there, and the 1900 is the preferred route to go in there and/or the King Air. And the King Air as well as the medivac aircraft, which is required to land in there. So that's another factor to consider on that runway. Thank you...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah, and, again, and I appreciate that and the work that's being done up there. My only concern -- other concern, around that is, as you know, it's being done by a local contractor in partnership with the Indigenous government up there. And to do projects of this nature, obviously it requires staffing up, it requires training and, you know, given that it is a -- I understand the project has been reduced this year to allow that runway to settle, though there's always a fear that you lose some of that expertise and lose some of that workforce given that the project is on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my first questions are around the Mike Zubko air terminal building and -- sorry, the extension of Inuvik airport, the runway extension, we know that's being funded through the feds, through DND. It's been an amazing project thus far, and I look forward to that continuing.

My question is around the plan for the funding in this capital budget around paving, Mr. Chair. Can the Minister give an update on if, indeed, they do intend on paving the runway in 2026? Thank you.