Denny Rodgers

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I move that this committee defer further consideration of the 2026-2027 Main Estimates for the Department of Finance at this time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up on my Member's statement, and my friend and colleague from Range Lake as well kind of mentioned the infrastructure investment. $10 billion is a lot of money. My question is for the Premier. And I know -- I mean, information or details right now around the investment are pretty sparse. I get that. But through his dialogue with Ottawa, with his federal counterparts, has there been any indication that some of this enormous amount of funding would be used for major projects, namely, the Mackenzie Valley Highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And thank you for that little bit of a tease in there. I like that, that potentially we could have some funding for our highway.

You know, we have three major infrastructure projects that we know we have listed, we've discussed in this House many times. And, again, not to put anyone on the spot but would the Premier say that the Mackenzie Valley Highway, given that it is shovel ready and it is further along than the other -- than all three projects, would be the number one project that we would be certainly expressing to Ottawa that could be done and done now when it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, colleagues. I, too, would like to congratulate Mr. Erwin Elias on his election as IRC chair and the chief executive officer. As well, to thank Mr. Duane Smith for his 10 years of excellent leadership in the region as well.

Mr. Speaker, as the Premier stated, the eyes of North America and, indeed, the world continue to be focused on the Arctic. With the recent federal procurement notice of up to $10 billion in spending in the northern operational hubs of Inuvik and Yellowknife, we have the potential for a huge economic benefit.

Mr. Speaker, this is more than...

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

Well, I thought I was done. But I think I got a "hopefully" and a "maybe" in there that time. I'm not sure, Mr. Speaker. But, again, I appreciate the Minister's support on this. And, again, looking for the commitment to ensure that we do get this done.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year, the Minister of Infrastructure committed, of course, to chip sealing the bypass road in Inuvik as part of the project on the runway. That was received with open arms, I should say, in Inuvik. It's been something has been trying to get done for the past several Assemblies. So now, Mr. Speaker, I'll ask this Minister of Infrastructure, since portfolios have changed, if he too will maintain that commitment to ensure that the bypass road in Inuvik will get its chip seal in the life of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And it's good to hear. Certainly, that was leading into my second question about the larger picture. So it is still the intent in that the CT scan design is part and parcel of the design for the addition for the long-term care as well? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today is our last day of session. It's usually a day of reflection for myself like many others, I'm sure, reflecting on all the hard work that's been done by committees, all the hard work that we've done throughout this budget process. And then, of course, Mr. Speaker, I reflect on thinking about those that the reason we can do this work and we're here to do this is the sacrifices of those that came before us, Mr. Speaker. I know personally I have and have had and still have members that serve in the military. I have family members that served in both the...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the committee wishes to consider Committee Report 33-20(1), Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges Report on the Review of the Rules of the Northwest Territories Legislative Assembly, No. 2. Thank you, Madam Chair.