Statements in Debates
It's my understanding that the threshold in most of these agreements is such a high level that in won't affect a business' policy or the manufacturer's policies.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal government is involved in a number of bilateral and multi-lateral trade agreements, and with that being said, they involve the Northwest Territories, they communicate with us in the provinces, and we have representatives, ITI has representatives, at the table with the federal government to engage on these processes and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has made a commitment in its mandate to capture opportunities for investment in transportation infrastructure by working to secure funding to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway, make an all-weather road from Highway No. 3 to Whati, and improve access into the Slave Geological Province. Today I would like to provide an update on the progress made by the department on these projects where work continues to steadily advance.
The Department of Transportation believes we have a significant opportunity to move these projects ahead by securing...
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the department is currently reviewing what's called condition G driver’s licenses to allow the drivers in small communities to drive without any restriction beyond 100 km in their region. What we're hoping to do, in this review that we're looking at, would allow them to drive on the ice road system, basically. The Member has referred to Tulita, and presently if a person has a code G driver's license, they can only drive to Norman Wells, and that would be their restriction on their license. The policy is being reviewed, and we want to be able to let them drive...
Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Community Futures Program 2014-15 Annual Report." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Currently, the review that is being done on condition G licenses, as we said, is basically on the ice road system and allows people to commute beyond 100 km of their community or their residence where their license is registered. I can get the information of exactly what we're currently reviewing on the whole aspect of expanding this, and I can get back to the Member on that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I don't have that information readily available. I would have to get back to the Member on that.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, GNWT, we're a co-proponent of the Giant Mine remediation project, and the Giant Mine remediation project we are currently undertaking an additional human health risk assessment to supplement the previous assessments. This work includes consolidation of a wide array of existing studies and reports both on the Giant Mine site and offsite. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Establishing a revolving fund for the Yellowknife Airport is a critical step in the NWT's plans for improving how the airport is funded and managed. The Yellowknife Airport could be making money for itself if we ran it more like a business. That money could be put towards improvements in all kinds of areas. We're talking like things like parking, shorter security lines, more businesses in the terminal and in the holding area. With the way we're running the airport right now, Mr. Speaker, it's costing the government $4 million a year, and we still can't make these...
The department always looks at all departments and all avenues to try to bring better driver opportunities for all residents in the Northwest Territories. One of the main things, though, that we have to take into account is public safety. The reasons for some of these restrictions in the communities, we have two restricted types of licenses, a code G and a code B. Both of them are based on various restrictions, but most of them are due to lack of infrastructure in a community such as curbs, sidewalks, lights, crossing devices, and merge lanes.
So if you are in a small community such as Colville...