Mr. Speaker, I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement with regard to the Dehcho Connection and Highway No. 1 and No. 7 to the Minister of Transportation. Many documents have been brought towards the work with the federal government. We’ve got the Connecting Canada document that went to the federal ministry, as well as the Dehcho Connection as part of the National Highway Strategy. I would like to ask the Minister what has been done to work with the federal transportation to find us some resources to build up Highway No. 1 and No. 7. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I believe the Deh Cho connection was spearheaded by ITI and we’re certainly trying to do our part to promote and help out with this program that’s been in place for some time. The issue of highways across the Territories has been on the forefront for many of our Members as our roads continue to hit their mid-life retrofit needs. Highway No. 7 is no different. Highway No. 7. In fact, it might be a highway that certainly needs more attention. It was built many years ago and it requires an upgrade and new construction, as we all know now. Last summer we certainly had a lot of problems with excess weather and drainage problems that led to having additional investment in that area. We have brought this forward. We have included it in our plans for the federal government and we have targeted some dollars to improve the structure of the road and also to look at some of the problem areas. Thank you.
I know that in the federal budget when they mentioned the highway systems in the Northwest Territories, of course, they mentioned the Yellowknife bypass road, but to the discern of my constituents I think our highway system should have been mentioned. I’d just like to question the strategy that the Minister had with the federal government in that regard. Just saying there, Mr. Speaker.
I’d like to know how much work has been done in this budget towards speaking with… Sorry. The resources for highways No. 1 and No. 7. In particular, I’ve been always pressing for working towards the chipseal of highways No. 1 and No. 7. Have they been looking at that in this budget? Have we had any discussions in the capital planning process, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I’m struggling to answer the Member’s questions. He’s asking questions about the acceleration of the Building Canada Plan where we do have a number of projects, and he’s asking me to disclose what has been discussed with the federal government. That has not come before the House. Our budget has just been introduced today and has not been on the floor of this House, so I can’t really start discussing issues and projects that are in the budget at this point. I’d certainly be glad, to when we come to the portion of the budget presentation that involves Transportation. I can assure the Member that we’ve had certainly a lot of discussion with the federal government on highways; Highway No. 7. We’ve also had a lot of discussion internally looking at the different issues that are challenging Highway No. 7 and highways across the North.
Thanks to the Minister for detailing this. He’s kind of limited in all the answers. I just, once again, want to reiterate the concern of Nahendeh residents that working towards chipseal of the Deh Cho connection is a priority. First and foremost, I’d like to see that on the long-term capital plan, Mr. Speaker, if the Minister can address that. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, our first priority in the reconstruction of most of our highways is to strengthen and reconstruct the road base; have that done on our roads and then we can start focusing on the secondary measures such as dust suppressants, including chipseal. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
I’m glad he answered it that way, because that’s a goal. One of my goals in this term is to actually see the chipsealing program on the long-term capital plan. I’d like to ask the Minister again if he’ll work towards that with me. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we’ve heard the Member loud and clear on many occasions now speaking about Highway No. 7 and Highway No. 1 and other transportation infrastructure in his riding. We’d be glad to work with him and it’s our goal to have our roads strengthened and reconstructed and at some point have chipseal applied or other dust suppression measures.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
