Debates of February 1, 2006 (day 20)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Honourable Michael McLeod, the Minister of Transportation. I often embark on a drive between Hay River and Yellowknife and vice versa. It is always an adventure. It won’t be such an adventure when the bridge goes in, but it is always interesting now. The Minister, in the past, and his department have been very responsive to suggestions that might keep the travelling public on the highways more informed of the condition of the roads and the status of the ferry crossing and so on. Just over the past couple of months with Christmas and so on, I had a few issues with the information to motorists. I wanted to ask the Minister if he could respond to this. During the Christmas holidays, there were interruptions in the ferry service on the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. I know because people in Hay River were waiting to go back to Yellowknife and wanting to be updated on the status of the ferry. I went on the web site one day and it said this information will not be updated between December 23rd and 28th. I would like to suggest that if people are going to travel to other communities and visit friends, it is at Christmas. I just wondered why there would have been a break in the provision of current information about the ferry from December 23rd to the 28th. Could it have to do with Donnie days, or everybody was out of the office? I would like to know what happened there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the comments. We always get a good report from the Member on some of her trips along our highway system. However, on this issue of the ferry information not being available during the holidays is not something I was aware of. Our department considers traffic information and maintenance crews an essential service, so I will have to commit to getting back to the Member to see why that information wasn’t available for those days that she mentioned. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One other question I have for the Minister is with respect to the information about buffalo on the road. Right now there is a big sign which is a cut-out of a buffalo. That is to tell people, watch out, there are buffalo on the road or bison crossing sign. Is it possible or would it be easy to put up signs that would suggest to motorists that if they come across a herd of buffalo close to or on the highway, they could flash their lights for the next motorist coming down the road as a way of warning them that they may be coming upon something that is dangerous? Has that ever been considered? What would it take to do that? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of buffalo on our highways, Highway No. 3 and especially on Highway No. 7, has been something that we have been trying to deal with for some time now. We have been talking to ENR on a number of occasions to see what we can do to enhance the issue of having buffalo on the road, especially at night, to take all the precautions, to drive slower, to use your headlights in the evenings, and those things. As to whether or not we could incorporate a signal where when we are passing vehicles, that is something we would have to take a look at. That is not something we’ve thought of or discussed up to now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was actually a constituent of mine who recommended that. Normal people just flash their lights for oncoming traffic if there is an RMCP radar set up, but I think we should do it for buffalo. I think it would be more important. The other question I have is along the highway, there are signs. When you come by every community, it says…or even not by a community, it can be out in the middle of nowhere. It says, if you are in an emergency, phone this number: 669-1111. I was just curious of all the expense that we went to to put those signs up along the highway, how were you proposing people to get a hold of somebody? There is no cell phone service out there. I would say 99 percent of people don’t have a satellite phone. What was the thinking behind those signs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Mr. Speaker, the signs were put in place so that the motorists and the traffic along the highways, if they came upon an emergency, and if they had access to a satellite phone or some of the mobile phones entrusted had a number readily available, or once they come into the first community in the case of Highway No. 3, whether it is Fort Rae or Fort Providence, they would know the number and it would be available to them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if we are going to have signs kind of out in the hinterland, perhaps something easier to remember would be 911. Can the Minister please tell me what the status is of integrating our highway emergency system with that universally recognized number 911? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 309-15(4): Ferry Operations Information

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility for communications in the Northwest Territories falls under a separate department. That is Public Works. However, we have, as the Department of Transportation and Municipal and Community Affairs, had some discussions with some communication companies to talk about a number of things; first of all, the possibility of looking at cell phones or cell service in the Northwest Territories, to talk about what other jurisdictions are doing to bring cell phone services to some of the remote areas. We have also talked about temporary cell phone services. For example, on the Deh Cho Bridge project. We are also working with the emergency preparedness to discuss how we can become more comprehensive in terms of having our communications universal so that our firefighters can talk to the ambulance people, the ambulance people can talk to the highways people. Right now, we don’t have a system that is compatible. So we are discussing a number of these things. We will continue to take these forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.