Nahendeh

Statements in Debates

Debates of , (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The short answer is no for the honourable Member, Mr. Speaker. But I can commit to follow up with the community to see if we can alleviate those concerns about the best way to issue driver’s licences and getting driver’s tests done in that community. One of the ways of doing it, of course, is to set up a schedule to go into the community as long as everybody is aware when the driver examiner is coming. I know that some licences expire, but there is a grace period. But with enough planning, we should be able to address some of those concerns, Mr. Speaker. Thank you...

Debates of , (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Having a submission prepared for 2008-09 business plans hinges on the study that we are about to conduct here. I am not too sure how much work has been done in 2008-09 or the timing that we want this road completed. As well, with the expectation of new roads, we expect federal contribution involvement, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 7)

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The new initiatives for the ice bridge track vehicle, I'm going to have to double check on this. I believe it is a replacement of an existing old piece of equipment that's there, and then two new ice spray pumps. The request here is to have new equipment as well as the ice spray pumps is going to help us speed up the ice bridge, to have it operating earlier and getting the equipment out there sooner and, of course, thickening the ice. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 7)

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Transportation is issuing revised versions of three NWT driver manuals and is introducing the new Motorcycle Handbook.

The previous versions were close to 20 years old and out of date. The revised manuals are now consistent with other territorial and provincial jurisdictions and contain the latest driver information and techniques to ensure that drivers are able to safely operate all types of road vehicles in the NWT.

The four manuals provided by the Department of Transportation to NWT...

Debates of , (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In many of the jurisdictions across Canada, that is what in effect they do for reconstruction, rebuilding the highways, their bridges. They do slow the traffic down and provide tolls. They then recover some costs for those repairs because it is the travelling public that use it. But here in the North, our traffic volume just cannot sustain something like that, especially the smaller vehicles. Once again, we have to introduce new legislation to collect tolls. If that is something the Member wants to put forward and that is something the public wants, they are going...

Debates of , (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, the Member has a good question and the way that the Deh Cho Bridge Act is set up, it has nothing to do with our current operations. If the Member is looking at a government implementing a toll on our existing ferry systems, we will have to look at different legislation to do that, Mr. Speaker. The decision was made many years ago when we created our ferry system, is for easy, free access for the North and all northerners. Mahsi cho.

Debates of , (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have just been advised that a highway tax was severely defeated a term ago. I don’t think we want to go there. I think the Member’s intention is good in bringing forward that suggestion of creating the tolls and phase it in right now but, legislatively, we are just in no position to do that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Debates of , (day 6)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I think, if I understand the question correctly, the Member’s after can we realize some savings and create a fund to pay for the bridge. Fifty percent of the costs that we’re talking about for operating a new bridge is already being spent right now as we operate our ferry and ice bridge there, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the $6 per ton for a truck, that is a new figure that we have been using. That is something that the way it is right now in the financial model, is to become effective the day the bridge starts operating. There is an inflationary factor....

Debates of , (day 5)

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It's just a timing issue, Mr. Speaker. I believe we have enough time to repair the ferry this weekend and have it in the water running for the travelling public by 6:00 a.m. Monday. However, with the new pressing situation of the shortage of aviation fuel, the trucks and the tankers will be given priority when the ferry is ready to run. Transportation is closely monitoring the situation and will provide a travel advisory to pilots and the aviation industry if it really gets severely critical, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Debates of , (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not quite sure where the Member is getting his information, but the ice from Beaver Lake, which is a huge consideration for the ferry operations around Fort Providence, has always been taken into consideration. Just yesterday, that ice let go, so I don’t believe that the river was free of ice where we could have launched our ship, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.