David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, they would just follow the protocols that are in place. If they come across an accident scene, they’re to alert the authorities and monitor things. Again, if the Member wants specifics, I would be more than happy to get him specifics. It is different between a highway patrol officer… We have a number of front-line staff out on our highways. We have highway patrol officers and also equipment operators, so it’s much different. Thank you.

We haven’t done that analysis on those positions, but it’s certainly, as I mentioned earlier, as we move forward we get the deal done with the federal government on Growing Forward 2 and we put more of an emphasis on agriculture, and we’re getting closer to the devolution deal being done, once that’s complete and we take over responsibility of land management here in the Northwest Territories, positions like that may certainly make a lot of sense for us to have. As to a location, I think I said it earlier that Hay River would certainly make a good case for those positions.

Over the past four or five years, we’ve had many more staff working on agricultural initiatives. They’re balancing their workload with other things as well. I would be guessing, but I would say five staff in the area that would deal with this type of work on a day-to-day basis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the concern over what is happening in the Mackenzie Valley. Certainly the developments occurring in the Sahtu region are significant and substantial. The Economic Opportunities Strategy Advisory Panel has held several meetings where the developments occurring in the Sahtu have been raised. I’ve been assured that the panel will be bringing forward a number of recommendations for consideration by this government, which may include a discussion regarding the establishment of a special economic zone.

As industry moves forward to a positive decision to produce...

Mr. Speaker, in my role as Minister of ITI I do meet frequently with industry representatives. I have met with Fortune Minerals a number of times in the past. Certainly, a road to the project is really fundamental to the project going ahead.

We haven’t signed any agreements. We haven’t entered into any negotiations on a road. None of this has happened. It’s all, I guess, just guesswork on the Member’s part. When that does happen, you can rest assured Members of this House, the Member and his committee will know about it. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, oil and gas development has the potential to grow and diversify the Northwest Territories economy, a key priority of this government. Nowhere has this reality been more apparent than in the Sahtu region. Today I would like to give this Assembly an update on the activity in the Sahtu over the past few months and the plans for moving forward.

More than $600 million in work commitments has been pledged for the region over the next few years. As the busy winter work season draws to a close, early indications are that this has been a successful one for the local businesses and for the...

Thank you very much. I’ll get that information for the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We continue discussions with the Tlicho Government on the winter road realignment and trying to identify monies going forward to allow us to carry out that work. As far as the road the Member talks about to Fortune Minerals, nothing has been decided in that case. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, last week we learned of the tragic loss of two truck drivers and serious injuries to a third person as a result of a collision between two commercial vehicles. Our thoughts and prayers are extended to the families and friends of those who perished and to the survivor who is now recovering from the injuries sustained in the collision. This is a tragedy that has had a devastating effect on the families and loved ones involved. Our condolences go out to those affected by this terrible event.

I want to acknowledge the efforts of those who were first on the scene and rescued the...

Thank you. The Member would know the Government of the Northwest Territories is not in a financial position to spend $150 million on a road to Fortune Minerals. That’s not something that we have the financial wherewithal to accomplish. I’m not sure who the Member is speaking to at Fortune, but I will talk to the folks at Fortune Minerals, and the next time they are in Yellowknife, I will set up a meeting through the Member and have Fortune Minerals sit down with the Member and his committee, and I’d certainly make myself available to attend the same meeting so that we’re all on the same page...