Julie Green

Mr. Speaker, $18 million sounds like a lot of money, but in the context of the department's whole budget, it isn't. The fact is that the department is committed to providing a safe operating surface, and that's not what we have. Can the Minister give us an estimate of what it would actually cost to provide a safe operating surface from Yellowknife to Behchoko?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. As I said in my statement, the condition of Highway No. 3 from Behchoko to Yellowknife is a problem for residents, freight trucks, and tourists alike. This road has four times the traffic of any other highway in the NWT. My question for the Minister is: why doesn't the maintenance budget match the heavy use of this road? Thank you.

What I want to understand is whether the O and M and the additional capital costs of repairs are built into the total costs of this road right from now. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to talk about the condition of Highway No. 3, especially about the 100 kilometre section from Behchoko to Yellowknife. People in Yellowknife complain about this section of the road all the time, but by the reckoning of many drivers, the road was at its worse this summer since it was paved.

Highway No. 3 is not just another NWT highway. Forty per cent of all the kilometres driven in the NWT are driven on this section of Highway No. 3, or about 70 million kilometres a year. The drivers are residents, tourists, trucks resupplying the diamond mines, and...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate that the Minister does not want to advertise that the road is in terrible condition, but what if, in addition to the speed limits, there was some sort of information about permafrost degradation, like a sign in a roadside pull-out that explained what was going on with the road so that people had some understanding of why the road is a roller coaster? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I read a small section of an engineer's report on the road, and I see that it says it is settling. Climate change is making a difference in the temperatures, and the permafrost is thawing, and so on and so on. Is there no way for the government to make strategic investments to improve this road? I mean, the road really is terrible by anyone's estimation. Even within the confines of the melting permafrost, is there nothing more that can be done? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. How does the structure of this road compare to the other roads? I am trying to find a rationale for the volume of traffic, the condition it is in, and why it gets so little money compared to the overall highway budget. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. What concerns me is that the amount of money that is allocated to this road is disproportionate to the amount of use this road gets. Why does Highway No. 3 not get more money, considering that it holds 40 per cent of the territory's vehicle traffic? Thank you.

That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have some questions that follow on from my Member's statement and the questions and answers earlier today. My questions have to do with how the allocation of money to Highway No. 3 is determined.

It looks like there are two different pots. There is the New Building Canada pot, which is $18 million over four years ending in 2019, and then there is, let us say, own-source money for structural rehab and chipseal, which comes from the GNWT. I guess I will just start by saying: is that correct? There are the two streams of money for maintenance on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation won't build additional housing without additional operations and maintenance money. Has the Department of Infrastructure considered this approach? What is the point of pouring money into new roads like the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway and the Whati road where there obviously isn't enough money for maintenance? Mahsi.