Mr. Speaker, I like what I hear from the Minister, because I think it is time that we did review either the maintenance contracts or the maintenance practices that are being used and what type of equipment is being used or what type of equipment is not being used, and what type of materials are being used to apply to resurface the highway or try to maintain the surface on that highway.

I’d like to ask the Minister how soon can you investigate the condition of the roads and also the contracts that are in place and also the method that’s being used to maintain those highways.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the break from last session a lot of issues have come up in talking with my constituents in my region. It’s the social and economic situation we find ourselves, especially for people looking for work. The people are struggling just to make ends meet.

The cost of gas in Tsiigehtchic is $1.71 a litre, yet that gas is subsidized by the Government of the Northwest Territories through petroleum products.

The road conditions and conditions of the Dempster Highway, which is now being called the Dumpster Highway because of the number of potholes on that road, is...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I’d like to ask the Minister, would you consider looking at the type of contracts that are in place either as an hourly-based contract, a monthly contract, and why is it that you’d have these different types of contracts. Is there a possibility of streamlining the contracts so they are being funded to do the job they have to do, and they’re not being simply on an as-and-when basis, and that you’d consider a universal contracting system to maintain the highways of the Northwest Territories using a specific means of paying for the services for those contracts?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation in regard to the issues I raised in regard to road conditions, and more importantly, the Dempster Highway. It seems like they’ve been either very poorly maintained or the budget’s been cut. I’d like to ask the Minister exactly what is the reason that we’re seeing such a high number or the impact on maintaining highways. Has there been a decision in the department either to cut back on maintenance, or has there been a change by way of contracting practices, or is it because the number of roads that we are...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Mackenzie Delta, people of the Northwest Territories, for the privilege of serving them for 16 years as their MLA, as a Member of this Legislative Assembly, with the support of our elders, community leaders, our youth, and more importantly, the community membership, my constituency assistants, Sue Ellen Wilson, Liz Wright, Eugene Pascal, and my family and children. In 16 years, Mr. Speaker, a lot of work and effort and a lot of great people I had an opportunity to work with and serve in this Legislative...

Mr. Speaker, as we noted last year, this department had one of the higher summer hires by way of 32 positions, but I notice it’s down this year. I’d like to ask the Minister, to date, how many positions have been hired and are we going to try to exceed the 32 positions from last year.

Are there general comments on Committee Report 5-16(6)? Detail? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, it took political will and lobbying to the Premier to get this Minister to move on this effort so that he could back down from his reluctance to negotiate contracts. It took public influence to get this Cabinet and government to agree to two projects in my riding.

There were letters from Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. None were approved to Cabinet. The only reason that went to Cabinet is because the Premier was speaking to the public individuals in the communities by the community leadership so that we can see some benefit from these projects in our communities...

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. In Committee of the Whole we have Committee Report 5-16(6). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

A motion is on the floor to report progress. The motion is not debatable.

---Carried