Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last November I spoke about the proposed realignment of Highway No. 4, the Ingraham Trail. The highway needs to be realigned to accommodate the remediation process at the former Giant Mine property. The realignment has been on the drawing board for four years now. Three options were put out in the public realm by the Department of Transportation. Seeing as the majority of the capital costs of the realignment will be funded by the federal government, we must use this as an opportunity to maximize benefits to our residents.
Last November the Minister of Transportation told me to have some patience, Mr. Speaker, even though the process had been dragging on for three years at the time. Mr. Speaker, I do have patience, but when seven more months go by and we still have no idea of what is going to happen with the realignment, then I have to ask some more questions about where this issue currently is at.
The Minister also stated that construction of the road realignment would start in the fall of 2011. That’s only three or four months from now. So again, where are the committee and the department on this issue?
Mr. Speaker, if the option is chosen to bypass most of the mine infrastructure -- the option that I fully support, by the way -- then it will bring many opportunities for both businesses, residents and tourists.
Prior to being elected in 2003, I worked as a tourism development officer in the North Slave region, and it was apparent then that Yellowknife was in desperate need of an RV park. That was eight years ago. The issue has just seemed to disappear while demand continues to skyrocket. The realignment of Highway No. 4 could be the much needed catalyst for finally expanding the campground at Fred Henne Territorial Park to include more RV sites. This will not only be good for local residents who frequent Fred Henne Park but also for the tourists who oftentimes show up and are told that the park and the campground are full.
The bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is we need a decision to be made and I hope that we as a government can make the case that we want to maximize opportunities where we can. I look forward to asking the Minister of Transportation again today how it is that we are making a case for taking the option to bypass all of the mine’s infrastructure, thus opening up a whole new world of possibilities for new development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
