LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Plans to extend the all-weather Mackenzie Valley highway from Wrigley to Norman Wells and diamond potential near Jean Marie River were among the hopeful signs for the Deh Cho's economic future that David Ramsay brought to a recent event in Fort Simpson.

David Ramsay, the minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, spoke about future economic potential in the Deh Cho region and fielded questions during a Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce event on Oct. 6. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce invited Ramsay, the minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, to speak to local business owners at a members-only event on Oct. 6. Twenty-four people listened to Ramsay speak in the Icebreaker Lounge before launching into pre-arranged questions.

Among Ramsay's good news messages was the fact the government is finalizing a proposal to the national infrastructure fund for the construction of the all weather portion of the Mackenzie Valley highway between Wrigley and Norman Wells, that will connect the oil resources in the Sahtu to the south.

"I don't have to tell anybody in this room about all the opportunities and the benefits of having activity take place in the central Mackenzie Valley and the impact that it has on local businesses," he said.

Looking at the Deh Cho's future, Ramsay also announced that a resource assessment conducted on the proposed Five Fish Lakes protected area south of Jean Marie River revealed a small area with 18 kimberlite pipes, some close to the highway. There is a high degree of probability the pipes contain diamonds, he said.

"For me that's very, very exciting," said Ramsay.

The discovery reinforces the fact that the Dehcho Process needs to be settled so resources can be developed in the region and jobs can be created.

"If we could open up a second diamond field in this territory that would just be a complete boon for the economy, for the territory and something that I would certainly like to see happen down the road," he said.

Although he's no longer the minister of Transportation, Ramsay responded to two questions related to highways in the Deh Cho. Kirby Groat, the co-owner of Deh Cho Suites, asked Ramsay to relay to current minister Tom Beaulieu that the chamber strongly feels that Highway 1 should be completely chipsealed.

A chipseal surface would benefit tourism and businesses and the price of freight would drop, Groat said.

Lindsay Waugh, owner of Kiwi Electric Ltd., had a similar message about Highway 7. At the peak, as many as 80 tourists buses visited Fort Simpson every year.

In recent years there have hardly been any because of highway conditions, Waugh said.

Appropriate levels of funding need to be made available to upgrade Highway 7, especially in light of the heavy traffic that will be using the route when Prairie Creek Mine opens, he said.

"We all agree it's time to complete the upgrade of the highways," said Waugh.

Ramsay committed to taking both messages back to Beaulieu and said the government does recognize that regional transportation needs to improve.

Although some money has been earmarked for Highway 7 to improve troubled areas, it will take a lot more money to complete all of the necessary work on the route and the government has to try and find it, said Ramsay.

Angela Fiebelkorn, the chamber's president, questioned Ramsay on securing financial support for local chambers of commerce. The Fort Simpson chamber has lots of ideas about how to bring more businesses to the community, but needs staff, like a general manger, to make them happen.

If the chamber could access an initial amount of funding it could start creating revenue through projects and become self-sustaining, she said. Ramsay committed to finding out more about this idea and talking to the NWT Chamber of Commerce.

The evening event with Ramsay was a success, said Fiebelkorn. The minister talked about a number of projects that could create potential benefits for the community including the extension of the all-weather road up the valley.

"It's really good news that that's a priority,"she said.

The diamond potential near Jean Marie River is also an exciting development.

"If that gets developed the highway will have to be finished," Fiebelkorn said referring to Highway 1.

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