Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, like my colleagues, would like to give my support to this bill. Also, congratulations to the people of Deline. It is a great day. In my many years of political career, not only as an MLA but town councillor and municipal politics, we control our own destiny. We’ve taken our devolution. It’s an opportunity for the people of the Northwest Territories.

When I was on town council in Hay River, whenever we had an opportunity for the town to control its comings and goings, it’s better that the community itself takes that control. I see that as an opportunity for Deline to...

Thank you, Mr. Heide. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Does committee agree?

Thanks, Mr. Heide. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know the Minister has been getting these reports. I’ve been getting some of the reports on there. Industry has been keen on letting them know where the maintenance needs to be done. I know in the next little while we’re going to be looking at supplementary expenditures. The roads are melting. The weather is going to be starting to warm up here. We know there is going to be more pressure.

When will the Minister give us some indication that they’re going to increase the cycles and look for money in maintenance?

Agreed. Page 65, education and culture, operations expenditure summary, $244.200 million. Ms. Bisaro.

The next question I have is how does the department know that there’s going to be a set amount? If there are 10 snowstorms versus 15 snowstorms in a year or whether we have no snow in one area or lots of snow, how does the department set that as a fix? Does the department ever come back to the Assembly for additional funds to improve the maintenance on those highways?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Committee, we’re on page 61, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $11.967 million. Agreed?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As everyone knows, Hay River is the hub of the North. March is a very mad time of year. We have a lot of the shipping of fuel getting up to the northern communities. Right now tends to be a time when we get a lot of questions about the road systems, about how winter roads can be extended and how we can keep those roads open for longer.

We’ve been hearing lots of issues about cycles, the amount of money that the GNWT puts into road construction at the beginning and as well at the end. How do we keep these roads open? We’re getting a lot of questions and concerns from...

Thank you, deputy minister. Mr. Dolynny.