Michael McLeod

We’d be pleased to include all the Members that are involved in the program and all the Members that represent communities in the program and the appropriate committee as to our next steps and our actions that we’ll be following through with. Thank you.

The Department of Transportation has taken the lead role on this whole review and also has been providing oversight on the Food Mail Program for quite a few years now, and we are working and have partnered up with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and the Department of Health, and we are looking at the options and looking to see what are the benefits and the pros and cons of each option that has been put forward.

Indian Affairs has had their representatives come and make their presentation to committee. I am sure every Member will be in a position to make their comments...

We are always looking for opportunities to reduce the costs of living in the communities. This is an excellent way to do it. We have roughly 18 communities that take part and take advantage of the Food Mail Program as it exists. However, we are still a very small percentage in terms of the overall budget that is set out for the rest of Canada and we’d be very happy to see what the recommendations are from the Members. If there was a submission the Member wants to make, we’d be glad to forward that. We’d also be very pleased to share our recommendations, once that’s formalized and presented to...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents titled Green Light: Signalling the Department of Transportation’s Commitment to the Environment.

Mr. Speaker, I think Ottawa has been very well versed as to our desire to see the Mackenzie Valley road project move forward. We’ve made a number of contacts over the years and more recently had some face-to-face discussion with a number of different Ministers. The Premier has also raised it as well as other Ministers.

Mr. Speaker, our plan right now is to take the economic analysis, package that up with more detailed information that we’re going to require, which is going to be reflected in what we are calling a project description report which will be done over the next while. That’s our...

Mr. Speaker, the economic analysis has gone through its first draft. We’ve had opportunity to peruse it and there is still some review that’s going to have to take place. I don’t believe that it will be ready for this session, so I’m sure we’ll be able to table it at the winter session. Thank you

Mr. Speaker, the current plan is to have the road reconstructed and chipsealed from, I believe, kilometre 68 to the community. It will, as the Member indicates, require further investment.

Our goal as a department is to do the whole road over the long term. Right now we have not identified the resources to complete the last part of the project, but that is our intention, is to find the resources and bring it forward as part of our capital planning and when the time is appropriate to do so. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the total investment for Highway No. 6 is $6.9 million over three years and will be focusing on key areas of that portion of road that needs upgrading and reconstruction. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know if I’ll use his analogy for any of our discussions. I think the federal government has recognized that this is an important piece of infrastructure for the Northwest Territories and they have been continually investing over the last long term with all the different programs that have come forward. It has enabled us to improve a lot of the portions of the winter roads, for example, and great improvements in the Member’s riding. It has allowed us to build 34 bridges and most of them are in the Member’s riding, and it has allowed us to do a lot of improvement...

Mr. Speaker, the Member is asking if I’m going to table it and I’ve responded by stating that I would not be able to do that until the next session. I may be able to share the document with him in advance of that and make it public.

Mr. Speaker, in a nutshell, the review has come back and shows that investment into the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the $1.8 billion or $2 billion required will have a positive return and there are some really good opportunities as a result of having a highway built down the Mackenzie Valley and that’s reflected in the document. Thank you.