Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue my debate with the honourable Minister of Transportation on Highway No. 7. That highway is a gateway to our North, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to speak about the barriers and bumps that it has. I spoke time and time again about getting it into the capital planning process. In fact, just recently, Mr. Speaker, residents of Fort Liard did hand in the petition that I will action later on in this session. It is a very important document. They are going to get lots of support from all the communities in my riding. What stage are we at in the capital planning process for more resources and more maintenance money for Highway No. 7? Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We just recently approved our capital planning budget and there has been money allocated for Highway No. 7 as there has been money allocated for the last three years. Mr. Speaker, there are also some carryovers from previous years as we had to do further assessment. That has been done and we have committed to doing the work that has been identified through our planning system. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, in the past the work has begun late in the season and with the early fall they were unable to complete it. I would like to get the commitment from the Minister that the work on Highway No. 7 will begin as soon as possible when they can begin construction and use that operating and maintenance money and use some of the new capital dollars to fix our Highway No. 7. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, we don’t expect the money for Highway No. 7 to go anywhere except on Highway No. 7. I have to agree with the Member that there is a lot of investment that is going to be required over the next while to continue reconstruction of the road. The whole road needs to be reconstructed. It also needs to have a hardtop surface of some sort to protect it. That is going to require further investment.
I know the Member is trying to get some response from me as to what is in the upcoming budget. Mr. Speaker, that is in the process of being drafted.
There are huge needs right across the Territories in terms of infrastructure and highway rehabilitation. At this point we are just gathering information and it would be dependent on the different filters that we have to go through as to what remains on the drawing board and how much money will be available for investment across all our departments. Those things would have to be taken into consideration. Mr. Speaker, I can reassure that the Member’s concerns are heard and we recognize that there are needs for Highway No. 7. We will move forward accordingly. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister points it out correctly that, yes, I am looking for a commitment for the future year coming up, because we finished this year’s budget but I am looking forward to the next one. It is not good enough to say that because we are coming to election we can’t really plan for the future. I think we can. The people want us to. I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to that. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, that is what I plan to do. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also, I would like to get something in writing from the Minister about the work planned on Highway No. 7 and when it will begin this spring. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, I can commit to give it to him again. Mr. Speaker, this is information he has already received. We already approved our capital plan in October. As to what’s coming up in the next plan, that’s still being drafted and I’m not in a position to commit to something that I can’t guarantee.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
