All the highways in the NWT that are public highways are safe, as is this bypass road.
I hope maybe Mr. Beaulieu will drive Highway No. 3 one day and maybe that comment might be challenged, but we’ll leave that for another day.
My last question has to do with the bridge over Baker Creek. We know that last fall there were a number of delays and a number of questions in terms of the bridge that was going in there, and the fact that there were some abutment issues, to the point that there was concern that that bridge was actually put in reverse. We know that’s not the first time a bridge has been put in reverse in the Northwest Territories. In fact, anyone who wants to do any trivia challenge will know that we’ve got a few bridges that went in backwards. I will leave that up for the academics.
Have there been extra costs incurred as a result of bridge problems or bridge schematics, bridge engineering that have added unforeseen costs that aren’t reflected here that we might have a surprise later?
There were certainly delays in the installation of the bridge. There was some work on the abutments to ensure that the bridge sat into the abutments properly. I’m not aware that the bridge was actually put in backwards. There was an issue putting the bridge in that caused delays, but the bridge is in properly now and it’s safe.
Again, one final question. I mean, again, we’re looking at an appropriation here of a little under $1.2 million. Once this appropriation is approved, can the Minister assure us that that is a project that will be complete, that there will be no more further asks on that highway realignment?
The money that is put in here is a carry-over from an agreed contracted amount between the Department of Public Works and the contractor that did the work. As far as the government is concerned, we have a contract in place. There is a commitment on the part of the company to complete that road 100 percent according to the contract that they have in place, and our intention to do that.
Again, just to reiterate, because it got a nice paid political statement here that, yes, the contract will be honoured and we all hope that this will be done according to the contractor, and I’m not going to disagree with you. Okay? My question still stands.
Do we have any unforeseen costs that taxpayers are going to be having to look at in the foreseeable future on that highway realignment?
There has been no request at this time from the contractor that’s building the road for additional money in order to complete the project. To date, the money we have here is all the money that we intend on putting into that project to complete the project 100 percent.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Next on my list is Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would just quickly like to ask about the same project, if there was any consideration going with a higher grade surfacing. As we know, the Ingraham Trail is plagued with high cost for replacing surfacing. The Yellowknives Dene have used a very high grade material in their surfacing of the road in Ndilo. I’ve been quite impressed with the way that’s standing up compared to all other applications of paving that I’ve seen recently and certainly on Highway No. 3 and Highway No. 4. So, has there been any consideration? Is it too late to give that some consideration even if it was to happen, to finally demonstrate to the Department of Transportation what the gains versus the costs might be? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The plan is to chipseal the highway. I’m very familiar with the product the Member speaks of. There was no discussion between the government and the industry that would provide Easy Street on that highway at this time. I think we are in a contract that says that we will be chipsealing the highway. If the company decides that they would put a different application on there within the same dollar amount, then perhaps the government and industry could sit down together and discuss that possibility. But moving forward, our intention is to chipseal at this time.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Bromley.
That’s the only question I had. I assume from that response that there was no consideration given to using that product here. That’s all I had. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Ms. Bisaro.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. In accordance with Rule 6(2), I move that we continue to sit beyond the hour of daily adjournment to consider consideration of Tabled Document 87-17(5).
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Question.
The motion is carried.
---Carried
We will sit beyond 6 o’clock and continue with the Department of Transportation. Total department, not previously authorized, $13.972 million.
Agreed.
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, capital infrastructure expenditures, minerals and petroleum resources, not previously authorized, $278,000; tourism and parks, not previously authorized, $1.597 million. Total department, not previously authorized, $1.875 million.
Agreed.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources, capital investment expenditures, forest management, not previously authorized, $651,000; wildlife, not previously authorized, $193,000. Total department, not previously authorized, $844,000.
Agreed.
Does committee agree that we’ve considered Tabled Document 87-17(5) and are concluded?
Agreed.
Ms. Bisaro.
I move that consideration of Tabled Document 87-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 87-17(5) be reported and recommended as further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill.
The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.
Agreed.
The motion is carried.
---Carried
Mr. Bouchard, can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee has been considering Tabled Document 87-17(5), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2014-2015, and would like to report progress with one motion being adopted and that consideration of Tabled Document 87-17(5) be concluded and that the House concur in those estimates and that an appropriation bill to be based thereon be introduced without delay. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Do I have a seconder to the motion? Mr. Beaulieu.
---Carried
Orders of the day for Friday, May 30, 2014, at 10:00 a.m.:
Prayer
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Bill 26, An Act to Amend the Elections and Plebiscites Act
Bill 27, Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2014
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Bill 24, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Friday, May 30th, at 10:00 a.m.
---ADJOURNMENT
05 p.m.
