Michael McLeod

We will release the report once it’s finalized. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, chipseal is the preferred material for us to use as we are familiar with chipseal. We know the durability of chipseal. We have in the last little while been experimenting with putting the fibre barrier underneath chipseal and we’ve also looked at different ways that we can improve, including double layering. Mr. Chairman, it’s also the most cost-effective process to use. Asphalt and other products, including concrete, are very expensive. We have involved a company out of Yellowknife to do some testing on their product and right now we still haven’t been able to get more cost...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We plan to continue the chipseal work that was undertaken this year. We had anticipated we would do 70 kilometres from the junction heading towards Simpson. We weren’t able to do that, so we will have to carry that over and continue that next year.

As part of this capital plan, our intention is to start from -- time providing and weather cooperating, of course -- complete the work that we identified for this year and start next year from Checkpoint and head in the other direction up to kilometre 375.

I don’t believe it has cost us any more. Thank you.

The issue of the Mackenzie Valley Highway has been on the drawing board, has been on the radar screen for many, many years and with many governments. This is the furthest we’ve moved it with the partnership with the federal government in the history of the development of this road, I think since the last stretch was constructed. The 16th Assembly has been able to secure some funding to do the PDR and I think that is going to provide some of the backup information that maybe was missing. We’ll be able to put a very good business case together to bring it forward.

We are also securing dollars to...

That’s a very specific question and I think it’s chipseal all the way to 28. I should point out that there is some consideration at this point for some internal reallocation that we provided notice to the Members that fall outside of the capital plan as it is money already approved but reallocated.

Mr. Chairman, we have signed agreements with a number of the aboriginal governments allowing the Mackenzie Valley route up to Tuktoyaktuk. We have agreements for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk portion. That research has been completed and the work in the Gwich’in Settlement Area is progressing. We have an agreement with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and we also have an agreement with the Tulita Land Corporation. We have yet to sign an agreement with the Fort Good Hope people and the Dehcho. A lot of discussion has taken place and I think we should have agreements in both those communities or both those...

We feel that we’re meeting the obligations under the water licensing through the amount of gravel that we’re using and the amount that we reclaim. Therefore, we’re meeting the stipulations under the water licence. That’s an issue again that is going to be discussed as we move forward in our application for a new water licence.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want to thank the Member for her comments and some of the feedback she’s provided on her take of the benefits and the positive results we’re seeing and some of the changes we’ve made in the last little while.

Of course, there are concerns that all of us recognize up front, including carryovers. It’s always been an issue and historically we’ve seen that number grow. I’m pleased to report that this coming year we would expect that amount is going to be a lot less than we’ve seen. We’re still crunching the numbers. We don’t have all the numbers in, but as of today...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me I have Paul Guy, deputy minister of Public Works and Services.