Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Transportation some questions on Highway No. 7. I’d like to know for this coming fiscal year the investment plan and strategy for reconstructing Highway No. 7. Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There’s an opportunity because the community of Fort Liard does want to do some chipsealing in their community to save some money should the department go out and put out a bid for chipsealing, to work with the community of Fort Liard thereby reducing costs. It would be a win-win situation. Can the Minister do that? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’m very pleased to see that some investment is going into Highway No. 7 this coming fiscal year in the capital budget. Is there some of our O and M dollars, will that also be invested into Highway No. 7? Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. While we had an exceptional day yesterday with our much touted hold-the-line budget, it is still not faring well for my constituency. We continue to focus on huge projects that take away our financial resources and ability to take care of our other regions and communities. We must ensure a balance.

I have stood up here time and time again to let government know we need to replace schools in our small communities like Trout Lake, and fix our Highway No. 7, which will only help our North with tourism and industry. Our budgets are often painted as a great thing...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Mr. Speaker, this year’s plan which didn’t happen, there was a plan to chipseal from the BC border 20 kilometres towards Fort Liard. Is that still being planned in the ‘13-14 capital season? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that we report progress.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just to continue that momentum, if the ITI Minister will also work with his Cabinet colleagues that my riding of Nahendeh, Fort Simpson and Wrigley are being impacted, and that some resources will have to be identified for them as well.

We missed, of course, a huge opportunity during NWT Days, because this is a new and emerging issue for us to advise that the Sahtu is having impact on the region and our Northwest Territories. Will the Minister of ITI develop this strategy so that we can work with the federal government and let them know that we will need their assistance in developing impact funding for this region? Just like they committed $500 million for the pipeline, this is special development that is happening and if we can work towards developing some kind of strategy to get impact funding from the federal government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to see the expenditure in the budget to support the Sahtu. The impact of oil and gas development in the Sahtu is being felt throughout the Mackenzie Valley. Businesses in Fort Simpson and Wrigley have benefitted, but they are impacted, and local resources are stretched to the limit.

Recent weather conditions shut down the ice road into the Sahtu, and trucks were backed up all the way to Hay River. It was impossible to find a room in Fort Simpson until the road reopened. This is just one example of how the impacts on Nahendeh communities are noticeable.

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