NWT Chamber applauds Governor General’s decision to prorogue Parliament
December 4th, 2008
The NWT Chamber of Commerce commends Governor General Michaelle Jean’s decision to prorogue Parliament until Jan. 26.
“Hopefully this time will give all of the national party leaders a chance to focus on what is important and agree to deliver a meaningful economic stimulus package,” said NWT Chamber President Ann Marie Tout.
On the steps of Rideau Hall this morning, Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to use the seven-week break to focus exclusively on the nation’s financial picture in the face of the global downturn.
“We have three national parties with the role of working in the interests of Canada,” Harper told the gathered crowd of media. “Let’s get working on a package.”
The NWT Chamber firmly supports this idea of seeing the federal parties working in unison to strengthen the economy and further suggests Northern infrastructure would be a great place to start.
“A commitment to build the Mackenzie Valley Highway as part of that package would be an ideal way to inject federal dollars into the economy and get a huge return on the investment,” said Tout.
According to the most recent projections by the territorial government, building an all-weather extension to the Mackenzie Valley Highway would create up to 2,360 person-years of construction-related employment.
“That’s a lot of work when business needs it most,” she added.
Some of the other benefits related to the construction of the all-weather route would include:
- Reduced costs associated with doing business and living in communities that are currently isolated for much of the year
- Significant growth for the NWT tourism industry
- Reduced costs for the oil and gas industry
- Increased potential for exploration and mine development in the mineral-rich Sahtu region
- Between 26 and 55 additional person-years of employment related to ongoing annual maintenance once a highway is built
- Increased trades-related training opportunities for residents in affected communities which will help build long-term capacity in the NWT
“The Governor General has done her part and put the spotlight on the need to fix the economy,” concluded Tout. “The time for the federal leaders to move forward with this vital piece of much-needed infrastructure for the North is now.”
