Michael McLeod

Mr. Chairman, the answer that the Member is referencing has been part of the Slave Geological Study is correct. That’s the contract that I was referring to and, yes, we do have members of the Yellowknives Dene First Nations working with us in consideration of this project. They have representation on the steering committee and we’re also, of course, as you know, Mr. Chairman, we have been talking to the Yellowknives Dene on doing some partnership project work that needs to be done on the Dettah access road.

Mr. Chairman, I hear the Member’s request for us to keep moving forward on the Highway No. 7 portion of the Deh Cho loop. We have all intentions of doing that. We are hoping to have all our engineering requirements that would give us a better ability to develop a long-term strategic plan for improvements on the road. We also, as part of the Deh Cho loop have done quite a bit of work on Highway No. 1 in terms of upgrading, reconstruction and also chipsealing. We’d like to continue that and that would really enhance a good part of what’s considered the Deh Cho loop.

We are also working in the...

Mr. Chairman, there are a number of benefits that could be brought forward and pointed to as the discussion moves forward on lengthening the airport runways. Right now the domestic flights we feel are okay. It would be probably a desire to have the polar flights have the ability to land at our airports and take off from the airport. Right now they can land but they would have to restrict their weight as they left. That is the challenge. We still need to be able to put the business case together. We need to be able to demonstrate the need. I am not sure if we can do that at this point and...

Mr. Chair, yes, the Member’s correct. The process that has been put forward for the bridge project, as requirements from Finance, is to incorporate the expenses into the mains for this year and as we move forward with actual on revenue, we will come forward in the form of a supp. In the following years, it will be recorded on this page.

Mr. Chairman, I apologize. I was trying to get clarity on what the question was. Mr. Chairman, we are following the template that has been set out by Finance. In this budget line there are a number of expenses that are included in here. They include the PWS mail, SAM, contract registry chargebacks and Deh Cho Bridge interest expense.

With me on my right I have Mr. Russell Neudorf, the deputy minister of Transportation. On my left I have Mr. Daniel Auger, the assistant deputy minister of Transportation.

Mr. Chairman, I think for mobile equipment to go into Paulatuk, we would need more than just an MLA’s invitation. We probably would require the community to work with us to at least ensure that we have more than one or two people to deal with. As to having permanent units in the community, that is something that we had tried on a number of occasions to put out to contract. We need to have staff, of course, that are trained. If there is a recommendation or consideration, we would certainly be open to discussing how we can provide the service in the communities. We are finding in a lot of the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will certainly accept a pat on the back. I have to agree, there has been a real decline in the number of concerns that have come forward. The waiting room is a little more accommodating and things seem to be going a lot smoother and people are moving through the system a lot faster. Thank you.

Agreed, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, the dredging issue really doesn’t fall under our mandate as the department. However, having said that, we have concerns in this area as it has impacts to many areas of different sectors of the North. We have the marine traffic and the fishermen that are voicing concern. There’s also the issue with the municipality on some concerns that the island that’s being created in the middle of the river is causing or is certainly not helping with the flooding issues that are happening on the Hay River and to the municipality of Hay River and also to the Hay River Reserve.

We have engaged...