Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Beginning in 2014, the federal government launched a review of the Canada Transportation Act. The purpose of this review was to look forward 20 to 30 years to identify priorities and potential actions in transportation that would support Canada's long-term economic well-being, including that of the Northwest Territories, or NWT, and northern Canada. During the review process, many Northerners contributed, including the Department of Transportation who developed a formal submission highlighting the opportunities and challenges of the NWT transportation system, and met...

The department has a number of asks into the Federal Government through the Building Canada Infrastructure Projects. One of them is the P3 Project Plan through the FPT process for the Whati Highway. We have the Mackenzie Valley Highway, which is through the New Building Canada Plan Fund as well, and we also have the bundle three project through the FPT process with the federal government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled “Annual Report to the Legislative Assembly for 2015 under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act” and “The Waste Reduction and Recovery Program for 2014-2015 Annual Report.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would be glad to champion jobs for the Canadian Rangers across the north. As maybe a number of Members aren't aware, there are approximately 4,000 Rangers across Canada and 3,000 Junior Rangers in the country, so I would gladly take up the cause for that.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you for that question. The Canadian Rangers do not fall under my responsibility, but under Environment and Natural Resources and Transportation a number of initiatives do. We can reach out to the federal government to see what type of programs and services are available to help the Canadian Rangers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Protected Areas Strategy is something that's right across the Northwest Territories and region by region. That would be something we'd have to discuss with all of the proponents of these strategies.

Since devolution, a number of waste sites are still under the responsibility of the federal government, but through the department of Environment and Natural Resources, I could sit down with the Member and discuss the possibilities that he is talking about with the Canadian Rangers and the federal government.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation applies the Negotiated Contracts Policy to all requests received from communities interested in pursuing a negotiated contract. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department is willing to work with all communities, big or small, for the needs of the citizens of the Northwest Territories. I'd be glad to sit down with the Member and discuss what their possible needs are. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would encourage the community of Aklavik to work with businesses in the Beaufort-Delta region in the private sector to fulfill its crushing needs.