Tom Beaulieu

The road into the Slave Geological Province has been contemplated and has been a priority of government for over 20 years. We must recognize that with new devolution, a lot of our resource revenues are coming from the diamond industry. What we need to do is we’re trying to find a quicker or more efficient way for them to get their freight and fuel into the Slave Geological. We are contemplating building some of the current winter road into an all-season road to make it more feasible for the diamond mines to extend their life and to continue to provide resource revenues to this government and...

As Members know, it’s a $292 million proposal that we’ve submitted from Transportation to the Building Canada Fund. Right now we had separated them into three bundles of a little over $95 million. The first bundle received the approval through the Treasury Board. That’s one of the steps that it goes through: Infrastructure Canada to the Treasury Board and then back to us. The first bundle received approval today from the Treasury Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill amends the Motor Vehicles Act to remove references to validation stickers; authorize vehicles that are abandoned, seized or stored and have a valuable load prescribed threshold to be disposed of in accordance with the regulations; establish a framework for speeding offences that is proportional to the amount by which the driver exceeds the speed limit; define the term “use” in respect to restricted...

As far as the timelines for the Building Canada Fund, we have pre-tendered a lot of the work and we’re waiting for approval so we can award the tenders to the various companies.

As far as the Mackenzie Valley Highway goes, we have submitted all of the information that the federal government has requested. The last one was a business case that was a little over 300 pages long. That is currently with the federal government. The federal government is looking at that proposal under the National Infrastructure Fund, which is a $4 billion fund that is to be spread across the country.

Also, we’re...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Strengthening our connections is one of the objectives of the Transportation Strategy for the next 25 years. We would be paying equal attention to all three strategies. That is one of the strategies, is to improve the current infrastructure that we have. In fact, we have been working with the federal government and improving our current infrastructure for the past seven years with the Building Canada Fund and our funding, and we’re hoping to continue that work for the next 10 years as we get the bundles in the current Building Canada Fund approved. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 61, An Act to Amend the Public Airports Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Northwest Territories Transportation Strategy 2015-2040” crafted with the input of our stakeholders. The Department of Transportation Strategy provides direction for the development of a multi-modal transportation system for the next 25 years.

Also, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Results Report, 2014-2015, 20/20: A Brilliant North - NWT Public Service Strategic Plan.” The Public Service Strategic Plan guides our efforts to enhance and develop the capacity and effectiveness of our public...

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to announce that later today I will table an updated territory-wide, multi-modal Transportation Strategy, entitled “Connecting Us: Northwest Territories Transportation Strategy 2015-2040.” This important document will guide further development of our integrated air, road, rail and marine systems over the next 25 years. With this strategy, the Department of Transportation will work towards a vision of “Northerners connected to opportunities,” based on three key strategic objectives.

The first, Strengthening Connections, represents the department’s dedication to...

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 60, An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Act, No. 2, be read for the first time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a couple of people in the Gallery also. I’d like to first recognize Don Bubar, president of Avalon Rare Metals. I’m hoping that someday there might be a rare metals mine in Tu Nedhe. That’ll be good for the workers of Tu Nedhe, both Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e.

Also, I would like to recognize Tom Hoefer, executive director of the NWT Chamber. Tom and I actually worked together in the ‘70s. That is hard to believe, but true.