Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Geological Survey Strategic Plan, which is a five-year plan that was released this year, is a very important asset to this Government of the Northwest Territories. This information is used primarily by industry, but it's used to help inform this government, particularly around environmental land stewardship and climate change issues across this territory for any future development, and to assess the situations that are ongoing right now, such as the Highway No. 3, these types of things, with permafrost degradation and such.

We've just recently opened up the new...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Highway No. 6 will be completed in 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We'll be addressing some of these things going into the future, but some of the questions that the Member raised in the House are definitely going to be addressed through some maintenance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is that the two accidents were due to driver inattention or driver error. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I have the information on these three options that were put forward. The first option was to relocate the ferry from the existing location to haul to Fort Simpson. That would be a $16 million price tag, capital cost, to do this, and the length of the ferry trip would be definitely too long because it would be over an hour's sail versus a seven- to eight-minute sail.

The second option we investigated was to relocate the existing ferry location to deep water upstream of the Liard River, with a capital cost of $3 million. This option would not likely increase operating season, mostly to do with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The $67 million is part of the capital costs for constructing the Whati road. For O and M maintenance, that will be built into the O and M budgets. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think even before we share it publicly, when we go through business plans we'll probably share them with committee beforehand. I hope that addresses the question. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Between the questions that I get in the House about this section of road and other pieces of section of the Northwest Territories that are challenging, and the conversations I have with the general public, I do not believe they would be very receptive to the idea of us going back to gravel.

Even though I believe what the Member is saying, that it would probably address some of that stuff in maybe a little different manner, the general public, I think, wants to see chipseal on this section of the highway. We have prioritized the most challenging areas, like we said, from...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank the Member for commending the department. They are doing a great job communicating the situation that is taking place there on the Liard ferry. They are using our public communications through our Twitter feed and our websites and stuff, and reaching out to industry within the community. They have already had a number of discussions with industry, the Northern Store, the local contractors, and such. From my understanding, most people are well aware of this situation and have got everything into the community that is needed. There is a little bit of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do not think any jurisdiction in Canada is going to go out there and publicize in their tourism information pamphlets the condition of their highways across this country. What is posted is the speed limits, and that is what is posted along the highway. It is based on the condition of the highway for safe-travelling public to travel on this section of highway, and that is what we will continue to do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.