Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that. And, yes, I am aware; I know the Minister was very helpful during the closure crisis we had during the fuel delivery issue we had in Inuvik when the highway was closed. And I understand, yes, climate change is real; it's happening. It's happening on both sides of the border, but our contractors seem to be able to keep it open. I understand there's a little more mountainous areas on the other side. But 18 days is a long time. So does the Minister have any comments, or did he get any comments from his counterpart, the Minister of transportation in...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And although I don't have a list, so I run the risk of missing someone, I did hear some names that certainly I recognize from Inuvik, residents or previous residents. I'd like to recognize Anna Pingo, Adolf, Beverly Amos, Addie Smith, Debra English and Marla Pissuk. Welcome, everyone, to the Legislative Assembly. If I missed anyone, I apologize, but it's really good to see everyone here.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yeah and, you know, and I know the Minister is aware and I am happy to work with the Minister and the department on that. You know, some of the folks that we've had presented to us and the folks that work both at headquarters in the region are keen. And I am not saying we don't -- I am not certainly not disparaging the folks we have in place doing the work because I know they're very knowledgeable, and I've had some very good conversations with them. I just want to make sure we have the capacity. Maybe the dream would be a regional envoy for energy policy in Inuvik, Mr...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, as I've brought up in this House many, many times, I do think that the next economic engine that could fuel this territory is liquefied natural gas, or LNG. Obviously, I've said many times we have a significant amount of that in the Beaufort Delta, both onshore and offshore. I've also talked about in 2021 when I know the department did a pre-feasibility study that stated exactly that, that it was technically feasible and -- technically feasible and financially feasible to look at doing this. And I know I've brought it up in the House but I just want to reaffirm...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate that. And I know there's funding to do some upgrades on that highway, and certainly appreciate that too. In the summer, the Minister mentioned that he will meet again and talk about doing some commitments. Will the Minister include with that -- and I know in speaking with our contractors on the NWT side, they've often went down and said, yeah, we could get that open but yet a couple of days pass before it's actually done. Is there a potential that we could actually provide some of that service to the Government of Yukon?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Following up on my Member's statement regarding the state of the Dempster Highway these past couple of months, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure.

I know he's aware, obviously, of these closures. He would get those reports through his department. Can the Minister tell me if he's met with his counterpart in the Yukon and/or whether or not that meeting is scheduled to discuss the ongoing issues with the Dempster Highway. Thank you.

I'd be early, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Inuvik and indeed the entire Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Delta regions rely on the Dempster Highway for vital supplies, from groceries to building supplies, fuel, and many other needed products.

Mr. Speaker, for the month of January the Dempster Highway was closed 18 days, 18 days where no transport trucks were able to deliver to its customers. Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, as of February 20th, the Dempster Highway was closed for an additional nine days. Once again, trucking companies that serviced the needs of my community could not...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 448-20(1), 2026-2027 Main Estimates, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to use my Member's statement today to thank everyone for the important work we've completed over the past two-plus weeks. Sometimes it certainly doesn't feel like we've got that work accomplished but there has, indeed, been some good work done, and I'd like to thank the Members of the House for that.

A reminder to us all, Mr. Speaker, that there are still a lot of concerned citizens out there. We have a high cost of energy still, a high cost of food, and certainly we know that there are those struggling with addictions and homelessness, Mr. Speaker...