Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my Member’s statement with questions for the Premier under the portfolio of responsibility for new energy initiatives, energy initiatives that we know are a core opportunity to address cost of living issues for residents and businesses in the NWT. As the Minister for new energy initiatives, I asked the Premier why this government’s tendency to not build modest hydro plants while pursuing dreams of mega projects that are never realized is ongoing. Is it poor planning or is this a result of an overly ambitious vision at the leadership level? What is going on here? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a government, in both the 16th and 17th Legislative Assemblies we have reduced our reliance on fossil fuels. We’ve been spending money on alternative and renewable forms of energy. For the 17th Assembly, we have an Energy Plan where we’re spending approximately $10 million a year over three years to move into the areas of biomass, LNG and other forms of renewable alternative energies.
As far as spending money on projects that are large and costly, when we have our helmets on and our boots to the ground, we determined that they’re no longer feasible. We are not in the business of entering into projects that are not feasible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My conclusion is that it is actually a result of both poor planning and an overly ambitious vision.
With all these feasibility studies, many of which indicate things are economic to do, will the Premier work with other responsible Ministers to redirect GNWT’s new energy initiatives to realistic hydro developments that could actually produce a facility on the ground in the next five years? Mahsi.
We do work with all Members in this Assembly. We brief them on all of the different energy plans. We take all of their input and come up with a plan that’s acceptable to all of us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I am looking for evidence of that. This inability to actually get projects done on the energy front may also be a result of the fracturing of the energy portfolio between at least six government departments.
Has the Premier explored the possibility of combining these functions into an office of energy that would allow for better coordination of energy initiatives and provide a direct line of responsibility to a single Minister? Mahsi.
I think the Member should look around. We’ve done Bluefish, we’ve done biomass, we’ve done LNG, we’ve done solar and there’s a whole host of other alternative and renewable energies that are on the books. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t hear an answer, not unusual for this Premier. Given that many departments have new roles and responsibilities under devolution and given the fundamental roles that energy plays in all aspects of life in the NWT and given the commitment and focus in the NWT Energy Strategy on renewable energy, would the Premier commit to reporting back on the possibility of a new office of energy outside of departments with a mandate to actually build, not just study, an environmentally sustainable, affordable and efficient renewable energy system for all sectors of NWT society? Mahsi.
I am sure the Member would be pleased to hear that that work is well underway. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We in the NWT suffer from many forms of addiction. Some of these addictions are to drugs and some are alcohol related. Both are bad, both destroy lives and both can be treated. However, we in the NWT also suffer from a severity of another modern day addiction and it’s getting worse, not better, and we’re ignoring all the warning signs. Of course, I’m referencing our addiction to connectivity while driving a motor vehicle.
Just this morning on my way to work, just in a couple of blocks I counted nine motorists on their cell phone while driving. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation.
Our distracted driving law came into effect on January 1, 2012, and on October 22nd of that year, I asked then Minister of Transportation how many convictions, tickets and warnings have been issued in the NWT since inception. So I will ask the same question to the Minister here today. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2012 we had 177 convictions; in 2013, 223 convictions; and to the end of March 2014 we’ve had 54 convictions. Thank you.
Thank you to the Minister. Thank God for Twitter for the advanced notice. Clearly, the issue of distracted driving is not getting any better, not only here in the NWT but everywhere. Just last month I saw a billboard in Edmonton saying “Crotches Kill.” I was a bit taken aback by the aggressive tone, but you didn’t need to stray far as many drivers really do have a fetish of looking at their underwear while driving. Don’t worry, Mr. Speaker, we in the NWT have the same addicted fetish. So I know DOT has awareness campaigns like Leave the Phone Alone and Drive Alive!.
Can the Minister honestly stand before this House and say these programs are having a meaningful impact here in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That type of campaign seems to have limited impact on an individual deciding to continue driving while distracted. One of the steps we are taking immediately is to increase the fines for individuals who are found to be distracted driving. This is perhaps not enough of a fine, but the fines have gone up from $115 to $280 if you’re caught driving while you’re on your phone or texting. So that is one step and we’ll see how that works. Probably we’d have to do something more severe to start to bend the curve downward. Thank you.
I will probably get some clarifications on the changes in fines, which leads to my next question. I took the liberty to compare our fine and demerit program for distracted driving and put them against the rest of the country. While the NWT residents normally suffer from a high cost of living, clearly our fines make us the cheapest place to get caught in the country.
Can the Minister explain why our fines, from what I know today, are published at $115? Why are they so low? More importantly, what is he doing to address our inability to deter motorists? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Member is correct; our fines are very low. So this is the reason we are increasing them, more than doubling them from what we have of $115 to $280. Also, in addition to that, we are going to step up the advertising and campaign of making people aware of how dangerous it is to do distracted driving. We know figures show in reality, distracted driving is more dangerous than impaired driving. We are going to have to be as severe with distracted driving as we are with impaired driving. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m strongly encouraged from what I am hearing from the Minister, and I appreciate the thoroughness of his reply. Back in October 2012, I suggested an amendment to the act of the removal and confiscation of the illegal and dangerous use of a mobile tool while driving. The then-Minister said the department would consider the idea. I’ve heard nothing since.
Because I believe we have to get tough on treatment like any other addiction, can the Minister convince this House he has a handle on this issue and will give it his full attention for the remaining life of the 17th Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I do believe that the department does have a handle on the issue. It is a relatively new thing, as I indicated, about three and a half years we have been charging people for distracted driving. I think over time it would become very apparent. It would probably be viewed as poorly as people view impaired driving within a very short period of time. Like I said, it’s probably more dangerous than that. So we’re very serious, the department, about doing something about it.
I see distracted driving all the time too. In fact, I just watched almost an accident two days ago as an individual was waiting at a stop sign. We both watched a young lady drive through a red light on the phone, and we both looked at each other and went like this. I mean, it’s dangerous for everyone, so we’re serious about it.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that some Members here are talking about our highways and highway system.
I just wanted to ask the Minister of Transportation with reference to my Member’s statement. I know that for the 2014 construction year, we had many plans and investment for Highway No. 7, Highway No. 1 north of Fort Simpson towards Wrigley and, of course, from Fort Simpson towards Hay River.
I’d like to ask him about those plans. Are they on track and what’s the DOT’s strategy for completing all the projects this year? Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are three main pieces of work happening in the area that the Member speaks of. On Highway No. 7 we are resurfacing and putting new chipseal down from zero to kilometre 20, and the Member knows exactly where that is. Also, on Highway No. 1, we are going to apply new chipseal. I believe there was some chipseal down. We’re going to apply new chipseal from kilometre 395 to 411. Also, again on Highway No. 1 just as it flows into the Member’s riding, from kilometre 188 to kilometre 206 we’re going to resurface and put on new chipseal. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I’d like to thank the Minister for confirming those projects. The one that was most concerning this spring was Highway No. 1 that goes from Fort Simpson and Wrigley. That collapsed in some places; there were ruts; there was lots of mud. I think there were some plans to do some reconstruction work on that Wrigley road section.
I’d like to ask the Minister if he could confirm some of those plans. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, unlike the Member, I don’t know where each of the kilometres start and end. I do believe that the highway that the Member refers to, I think, is from 395 to 411, and that’s the part of the road where we are applying new chipseal. But I cannot confirm that in the House today, if that was the exact section that the Member is referring to, but I would be glad to get that information immediately and get back to the Member. Thank you.
That section the Minister quoted – 395 to 411 – is actually towards the Hay River section. I was looking for the work that’s being done from Fort Simpson towards Wrigley. I think it might be kilometre 420 and even greater. So there was some work being done on the schedule for this year, but I’m asking the Minister to… Let’s complete that work and it looks like there’s more work to be done, by all the phone calls I’ve been receiving from Wrigley residents.
Will the Minister look into it and also confirm the plans to work towards Wrigley? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, certainly I will look into that. I will talk to the department, and the department, in turn, will contact the regional office out of Simpson and confirm any issues with the road. If there are serious issues with that road, then we’ll repair it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I also spoke about the Jean Marie access road. There’s the Dehcho First Nations Annual Assembly there next month.
I’d like to know what plans are to maintain that road for all the travelling public and the increased number of visitors that Jean Marie will receive. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, earlier we had provided some funding to the group in order to make sure that that access road into Jean Marie is ready before the Dehcho Assembly. I’ll touch base, again, with the region, to the department, to ensure that was enough money to ensure that road was ready for people to drive in there for the Dehcho Assembly. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week the Ministers had some meetings with the Tulita leadership, and one specific topic that they were consistently on with the Ministers was the extension of the Mackenzie Valley Highway from Wrigley into the Sahtu region.
I want to ask the Minister, in regards to discussions with the Tulita leadership and this government here and the Sahtu region, could the Minister update us on the progress to build an all-season highway from Wrigley into the Sahtu?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time what we have completed is a proposal. We recognize that this is something that’s been in the works for many, many years. This year, prior to March 31st, we as a government, with the Premier and Minister responsible for infrastructure, Minister McLeod, were able to put together an initial proposal that we forwarded to the federal government. We have received a response. The federal government is looking for some more detail, some more technical detail, maybe closer, better estimates on what the actual costs could be. So we’ve received that letter and we are now working on preparing a response to that.
We are also in the process of completing an environmental assessment on the road between Wrigley and Norman Wells. The initial environmental assessment took it all the way to the Dempster, but now we’re focused in on the road from Wrigley to Norman Wells. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly appreciate the update from the Minister. My constituents have duly noted the importance of the Mackenzie Valley Highway coming into the Sahtu. They want to know what’s been done. They’ve been having their meetings and have been making suggestions to the Minister. They want to know what’s been done to keep the momentum going with the Mackenzie Valley Highway so that they can start the construction on this road.
Mr. Speaker, to date, the GNWT has spent $128 million on that section of road; we’re referring to a road up the Mackenzie Valley. Slowly we’ve continued to work on that. We’ve put quite a few of the bridges in. We’re continuing to put bridges in which not only will work well for the future all-season road but also works well for extending the length in which the winter road will remain open. Plus, like I indicated, a proposal to the federal government on the national infrastructure program.
With that, we will be providing some information to the federal government, but for the most part, we’re waiting for their blessing in order to proceed any further. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the leadership and the people in the Sahtu sort of have an idea as to the progress to get full support to move in major steps on the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I want to ask the Minister if he’s committed to working with the Sahtu leadership in regard to seeking funding from other partnerships in place to start building the important highway as soon as possible. I know they talked about some of the work that could happen, so the leadership is looking for this government and this Minister to look at some possibilities that could be there that without even further investigating, so we need to look into that.
Can the Minister commit to looking into further areas that we can start to do some work in that area?
During our meeting with the leadership when we were meeting on the Mackenzie Valley road, the leadership had indicated to us that they were going to provide a proposal to us, a proposal that will be presented to the federal government and other departments in the federal government so that they can provide some funding through various avenues. One of the things that the leadership was very focused on was to try to access some quarries and that they wanted to build some of the road using some access money from the federal government and some money from the various other agencies and departments in order to begin and ensure that some of the contractors continue working.
One of the things they really wanted to do was something similar to what happened with the Inuvik-Tuk highway, was to try to get an access road to a gravel source near Norman Wells and one near Tulita. We talked about that with them.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Mr. Speaker, the leadership certainly, again, wanted to show its appreciation to Premier McLeod and the Cabinet Ministers for making themselves available to talk about some of these important issues.
The Inuvik region companies have a big role in the design and the construction of the Inuvik-Tuk highway and local residents and businesses are benefiting a lot from the construction.
Does the Minister support a similar approach for the Mackenzie Valley Highway to make sure that local companies and residents benefit from the future construction of this Mackenzie Valley Highway?
The Inuvik-Tuk highway is a design build highway. We are heavily involved in working with the joint venture up there, the EGT Northwind and in the construction of that highway. We think it’s a good approach. It’s a good approach for the Inuvik-Tuk highway. We would look at all of our procurement avenues when we build any major infrastructure like this.
At this time it would be unwise, I think, to say that we would go and negotiate a contract on that section of highway. We recognize that that highway will be running through two different regions. About 100 kilometres will be through the Deh Cho and about 233 kilometres will be running through the Sahtu. At this point, our priority is focused in on getting financing together and working with the federal government to pull the finances together, and the procurement of that will occur once the money is in place.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
