David Ramsay

Mr. Speaker, the application of road salt happens when the temperature is minus 10 and rising in periods of close to freezing. It is considered to be better application than the gravel in those instances. It is not used all the time, all winter, but predominantly in the fall and the spring. Because our climate is changing and we are seeing more days where we are susceptible to freezing rain, the use of salt has increased. If the climate continues to change, that trend is likely to continue. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs and small business owners are a crucial part of the Northwest Territories’ economy. They are essential to creating an economic environment that is strong and diversified, providing each region with opportunities and choices.

The last few years have been challenging for business and investment in the Northwest Territories. The downturn in the global economy also affected this territory, and it is more important than ever to do what we can to help the NWT economy grow and develop. Today I would like to highlight recent work this government is doing to assist small...

I believe the Member is asking for my opinion. The question is a bit hypothetical, if you want my opinion. Thank you.

I will get that level of detail for the Member, but last year in the NWT there wasn’t anyone that perished on our highways here in the Northwest Territories. I agree with the Member that we need to balance public safety with the environmental concerns. I will get the information for both Members.

Thank you. We’ve got to get out, get the geotechnical work done, the environmental work done, ensure that the environmental assessment is complete, get the financing arrangement with the federal government complete and get a better estimate of what the project is going to cost, and I think once all that work is done, we will be able to ascertain what the risks are associated with the construction of the highway between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. So that, again, that work is going to proceed and we will at some point in time in the very near future develop that risk matrix for all Members to see...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we move the Inuvik to Tuk Highway Project forward, obviously a risk matrix is going to be an important factor in this construction. We have to learn from lessons in the past, but again, the parallels that some Members like to make between the Deh Cho Bridge and the Inuvik-Tuk highway are unwarranted. We have a willing and able partner in the federal government that’s contributing $150 million to the Inuvik to Tuk Highway Project and we will develop a risk matrix and we will continue to move the project forward. Thank you.

Thank you. As I mentioned earlier to the Member, I’d be more than happy to go back to the department to get their understanding of what any potential environmental impact is with the use of road salt. But like I said, we’ve been applying that to the roads here in the Northwest Territories for the past 26 years. So I will get that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation has been using road salt for the de-icing agent in the Northwest Territories for the past 26 years. If the Member would like some detailed information on possible environmental impact of the use of road salt, I would be more than happy to ask the department for that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, that certainly would be a concern, but as I have mentioned to Member Groenewegen earlier, we are very proud of the fact that last year we had zero fatalities on the roads here in the Northwest Territories. I think that is a testament to the programs that we have, the Drive Alive program and other public safety efforts that we put forth. We are happy to have zero fatalities on our roads. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the Member’s thoughts on the funding. I will say that I am of the same belief that in a project of this size, the benefits, as much as possible, accrue to the businesses and the residents of the Northwest Territories and the majority of that money stays here in our economy and doesn’t end up in some southern economy somewhere. I think those are things that we need to strive towards and certainly it is my belief that we can sort out a procurement of the highway that will ensure that that happens. That is a ways away. Today we need to ensure that we can get the upfront...