Debates of August 17, 2007 (day 12)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, maybe I have a solution for Mr. Hawkins’s request…

---Laughter

…an all-weather road via Tlicho communities. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation said in February that the department, last year, completed a Tlicho corridors options study that looked at an all-weather road and the all-weather road corridor option in the Tlicho region. The department also completed economic analysis of the benefits and costs of both realigning the Tlicho winter road through an over-land route and upgrading the seasonal route to all-weather road standards. These studies were slated to be completed later this year, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me what the status is of these studies and discussions with the federal government? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Mr. Speaker…(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, the roads to the Tlicho area are very important and we have been working very hard with the Tlicho Government to that respect. We have set up a Tlicho Road Studies Committee and we have been meeting early in the summer and we do have another meeting planned for the last week in August. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with this proposed winter road realignment and all-weather road in our jurisdiction, it would be much cheaper and also a shorter distance to travel to the mine site from the south. As you can see in this diagram, it clearly shows, from the department, that that’s the best avenue to go, the Tlicho connecting the communities onto the mine site. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister, can the Minister tell me if the Department of Transportation will be asking for money towards this initiative in the next business plan, for the Tlicho road connecting through our communities' all-weather road? Has it been determined whether it will be an all-weather road or upgrade of the seasonal route? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Tlicho road studies and the $460,000 contribution from the federal government, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. It’s a study to assess the routes to the Tlicho communities. I think the important message here, Mr. Speaker, is that Tlicho communities will be getting seasonal roads in the long term, Mr. Speaker, and with or without the mines running through them, without the mine road running through there, and it will be a priority of our government, improving the access to all Tlicho communities and we will begin talking about it in the business planning process how to plan for it. The first thing to do is to get the engineering studies done to see exactly what the full conditions are and how much the road will cost to build. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the commitment that’s being made by the Minister to work with us, the Tlicho Government and also the communities. I guess the next question sort of leads to that where can the Minister tell me if he’s worked with the Tlicho Chief Executive Council, because they are the authority in our region on this project, and how he is keeping them informed of the new development? There’s a new development that’s happening in Nunavut. What’s our status? Are we moving forward expeditiously? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The developments in Nunavut are all part of the joint venture plans. It’s something that government is outside the process. It’s their initiative and if that’s what they would like to plan for and proceed with, they can do that. But as for ourselves, we have been working closely with the Tlicho chiefs and we have established the steering committee to look at the Tlicho road studies and we have been to the communities to advise them and discuss this project. There is a draft consultation plan, which we have yet to go over one more time and that’s the intent of our meeting at the end of this month, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question would relate to the winter road management committee. Since the Department of Transportation is responsible for transporting goods to the mining companies, I’d like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, if he’s willing to sit down with the winter road management committee if they can consult with the Tlicho Government, because rightfully it’s in our jurisdiction, Wekeezhii and also Monfwi Gogha De Niitlee area, if he’s willing to do that? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 141-15(6): All-Weather Road Corridor In Tlicho Region

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I’ll be pleased to add that to the agenda at our upcoming meeting. Mahsi.