Wally Schumann

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member stated, we were denied funding in the first round of the National Trade Corridors Fund. One thing I want to make light of that is there were over 300 applicants right across this country for this funding and a $2 billion fund, which I have always said at the FPT tables we could spend the whole $2 billion. We are competing against all of Canada for a small pot of money. That is not saying our project is any more or less desirable than any other one, just that there is a limited amount of funding.

We believe there is a second round of funding for this pot of...

Last year, we replaced three guardrails at kilometre 33.8, 37.6, and 45.5. The department has here in my note that we are doing a planning and survey, and design work is underway for possible installation of guardrails at kilometre 13.5 and kilometre 18.7 for the 2018-2019 fiscal year.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have travelled that road as of a couple of nights ago with Member McNeely when we were out having a look around town. There are a number of potholes on that section of highway. I suspect that the maintenance crews that will be looking after and maintaining all highways across the Northwest Territories, as all Members know, have to wait until the road thaws out and get on these situations.

I believe this section of highway is ours at this point. I think we are having discussions with the City of Yellowknife in taking over that section of highway. We can keep the...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "NWT Petroleum Resources: A Path to Northern Benefits and Energy Security." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories has significant and varied energy resources. As Canada's gas and liquefied natural gas industry takes steps towards competing in the global market, the Northwest Territories' resources are positioned to both improve energy security locally and help Canada compete.

The responsible development of these resources will also create meaningful jobs for residents, opportunities for business, and sources of revenue to support territory-wide public programs and services for NWT residents.

In particular, the Northwest Territories' petroleum resources offer a...

We wanted these projects to match real life issues and the challenges that we face in the Northwest Territories, so a sample of what the engineering design staff experience every day in our departments.

We have had them have a look at a couple of things: the Slave Geological Province alignment; health monitoring of the Deh Cho bridge; road alignment for the new winter road to Deline; repair options for airports at the Hay River, Yellowknife, and Inuvik runways, as we have challenges around them; options for Highway No. 3; and possible options for permafrost as well.

One thing about having these...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As all Members know, the department is fully committed to this process. We believe in revitalizing the fishing strategy. We want to implement this strategy. We have committed significant funds from this government towards this strategy. We have also committed a position to help the fishermen in Hay River in moving this strategy forward.

We are working with other federal departments to secure some funding around this and other funding partners. These initial discussions are still looking very promising and, at the right and appropriate time, I will announce what kind of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We can certainly look into that. I know Destination Deline and the Member have been working very hard to attract tourism, and they signed a MOU with a number of companies in China on their last trade mission there. We will certainly work with the community. I know the department has spent a lot of money and investment, up to over $500,000, on helping them get their position as Destination Deline, and we will certainly talk to our department and our regional staff and see what we can do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I have said, this work is commencing as we speak. If Members recall, last year, one of the hold-ups we had was Transport Canada officials who do the inspections got called away off to some other needy thing that they had to look after before they came back to the Member's riding to inspect the ferries, which held things up, but as things are going forward here for this season, it sounds like all the inspections will be done and the ferry should hopefully be in the water as early as Monday; and hopefully within three days of water testing, the ferries will be in operation.

The government is working on the development of a 2019-2023 Action Plan to guide the implementation of the 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework, and this document will address the Auditor General's recommendations not already incorporated into the framework. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.