Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 84-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2012-2013, be now concluded, and that Tabled Document 84-17(3) be reported and recommended as further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased that the Minister is willing to do that. Will the Minister advise me when they begin those discussions? I will certainly share that with the constituents travelling from Nahendeh. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes they are housed here overnight and their appointment is in the morning, and then they still have to wait a long day as well. In fact, I had a resident actually ask the hotel for a half a day rate, but the hotels in Yellowknife don’t do that.

Is the Minister willing to talk with the Hotel Association in Yellowknife or something to allow half a day stays and somewhere they can relax? Often they are travelling with children or elders. They just have nowhere to go during the day. Thank you.

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?