My question is for the Minister of Transportation.
Recently the government of Nunavut signed a deal with the Government of Canada — the Building Canada Fund. I believe we are negotiating a similar agreement for the Northwest Territories. And it’s an opportunity to get some of these capital projects done that we've had in mind.
We've had one in mind a long time — the Dettah Road resurfacing. I’d like to ask the Minister: will the Minister commit to meeting with the leaders in Dettah to make resurfacing of the Dettah Road a high priority?
Mr. Speaker, I will instruct my department to look into our transportation plans across the Northwest Territories, and I assure the Member here that the Dettah access road is in these plans in terms of improving the access roads right across the North. I’m working very closely with my colleague the lead Minister for the funding that the Member alluded to in terms of all of the priorities that we’re being asked for. I certainly would again reassure him that I will instruct my officials in the North Slave regional operations to set up a meeting with the leadership of Dettah, and I also invite the Member to participate with me at that meeting.
I would like to ask that the Minister use his influence here to make this a priority for these people who have waited so patiently for so long. Will the Minister make it a priority? I will have one follow-up at least after that.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Member for the question and also for the encouragement to use influence in terms of all of the priorities across the North here and specifically on transportation needs, as we heard from other Members in terms of their needs in terms of transportation. I will be sitting with the lead Minister on specific funding arrangements that we’re discussing today with the federal government and looking at all the needs.
Certainly, again I would, you know, take into consideration the Dettah access road as any other roads, airports or regional facilities that are being looked at in the North here to see what our best possible investments are in terms of our limited dollars. So I thank the Member, and I certainly look forward to sitting down with the leadership and the people of Dettah, either in a short time frame or whenever you’d be able to meet, in terms of improving the safety of their roads.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister’s commitment to sit down with the people of Dettah, the leaders in Dettah, to discuss this priority.
Will the Minister work to ensure that it will be a long-lasting resurfacing this time, a little bit thicker than a poker chip and something that will actually last a number of years? I know we have the technology for that.
Laughter.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of the department I’m sure that any type of work that this department does will be quality work. It will be a long-lasting investment. It will be a good investment. The people in Dettah will be very happy with the department in terms of working on their roads.
Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Mr. Speaker, that was exactly the answer I was looking for. I’m sure the people will be pleased. When can we expect this meeting to take place?
Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated to my office to check on our schedules and my schedules and, of course, the Member’s. I want a schedule that we can coordinate with the leadership of Dettah so that we would arrange that meeting with the community as soon as possible. That may be within a week or so. I’ll be working with the Member on setting the time and location as to when we can meet with the good people of Dettah.
