Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 84-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2012-2013.

Mr. Speaker, I’m glad that the Minister will get that medical travel staff to engage in discussions. When can the Minister initiate such an action and start discussions for us with the Hotel Association, or is he looking for alternate places where people can sit and relax for the day while they are waiting for their late evening flights? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions on medical travel. Firstly, I just want to wish all Members of this House a boo-tiful day.

---Laughter

I have had constituents from Nahendeh contact me on the medical travel issue. The issue is about when they get here, they are here for a day trip. The flights from Nahendeh come here in the morning and they depart in the evening. Their appointments are usually in the morning, but for the four or five hours in the afternoon, the medical travel clients have nowhere to go, nowhere to wait. Do we...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 83-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2012-2013, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 83-17(3) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to urge the Minister, once again, to seriously consider chipsealing Highway No. 7 from the border towards Fort Liard, the 20 kilometres that we had reconstructed. It will just make life so much easier for the residents of Fort Liard that travel those roads, and the men and equipment that are generating revenue by working in BC.

I’m glad of the Minister’s commitment to Highway No. 7. I would, as well, like the Minister to make a business case to our Cabinet for increased investment to Highway No. 7 in the upcoming budget for 2013-2014. Can the Minister do that, working with his Cabinet colleagues?

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have to give praise when praise is due. This year I’m pleased to say that the Department of Transportation was able to maintain Highway No. 7 in a very drivable condition. Luckily, because we had a dry summer, road conditions did not deteriorate as much as in previous years. As a result, the region experienced an increase in tourism.

Highway No. 7 is the route to some of the Deh Cho’s most spectacular attractions, with mountain views and plenty of wildlife to be seen along the way. Tourists on Highway No. 7 can stop to fish for pike, pickerel, or grayling...

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

---Carried

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 83-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2012-2013.

With the upcoming budget, will it have plans to chipseal the first 20 kilometres of Highway No. 7 from the BC border towards Fort Liard?