David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, in regard to the capital estimates, I think that the Department of Transportation has to seriously look at the high cost of maintenance in regard to our highway systems, but more importantly, with the changing climate and the effects that we’re seeing, especially in regard to some sort of...You know, we talk about dust control, we talk about some sort of a road resurfacing appliance that we can put on our roads. I know there are different products that are out there, but I think, as a government, we have to seriously start testing these products on the highways...

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. We are on Department of Transportation on page 9-2, department summary, so we will defer that. Are there any general comments in regards to Department of Transportation? Infrastructure investment summary, page 9-2. Mr. Yakeleya.

With that, we will take a short break and then deal with the Department of Transportation in Committee of the Whole.

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I would like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 1-16(4), Tabled Document 18-16(4), Tabled Document 19-16(4), Committee Report 1-16(4), and Committee Report 2-16(4). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

I believe we do have some perfect avenues to take. We have the Deh Cho Bridge Act to fall onto or whatever it is. It is in the process and legislation has passed in this House to take a look at that concept of building a bridge. We have the P3 policy that we are considering looking at with federal investment partnerships. I think that sometimes we have to think of unique ways of achieving these results. At the end of the day, in closing, I would just like to ask the Department of Transportation...This summer alone the ferry crossing on the Peel, because of flash floods or basically major...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I find it kind of hard to hear the Minister’s comments regarding not being able to quantify the importance of the trapping industry in the Northwest Territories but we’re doling out money to every industry that’s from outside the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, my last question in regard to the importance of harvesting to people in our small rural and remote communities. People still have to sustain themselves by some sort, unless this government’s willing to dole out more money for income support and put everybody in our communities on income support and make that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is more in regard to the bridges in the Northwest Territories. It seems we’ve put a lot of focus on the bridges in the Mackenzie Valley. I mean the issue on that one was mostly around environmental liability issues in regard to Fisheries and Oceans and also extending the seasons for those roads. I know I’ve mentioned it in this House before. Have we looked at the possibility of replacing our ferry operations with permanent bridges so that we can get that 12 month a year access?

Also, looking at the studies, I know using the Peel River there were studies back in...

I know in the past, through economic development through our EDA agreement with the federal government, we have programs such as special Arctic grants where people were able to apply for grants to get snowmobiles, equipment, we have the Grubstake Program, which was there to assist people basically to stake claims and whatnot in the Northwest Territories. I’d just like to ask the Minister, in light of the economic dollars we’re seeing from the federal government, have we looked at the possibility of implementing these types of programs which worked in the past and we’re there to support...

Does the committee agree that the Minister brings in his witnesses?

With that, we will deal with Bill 1. I would like to ask the Minister responsible for the bill if he has some general comments. The Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.