Debates of May 9, 2007 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Transportation. It’s in regard to a letter written on April 4th by community leadership in Fort Smith talking about and requesting that now that there’s $24 million in new money in the budget for infrastructure, that Highway No. 5 finally be put back on the priority list for chipsealing; and not only that, but that they look at repairing the serious deterioration of the existing chipsealing. So I just want to ask the Minister if he could indicate in this House what is planned in that regard. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we had responded to the joint letter from the community leaders of Fort Smith, as well as the MLA there, Mr. Speaker. There will be chipsealing happening on Highway No. 5. I believe it’s around kilometre 88 for this year. The Member does bring up priorities in the new federal infrastructure funding that the details are currently being…We have not seen the details from the federal government, but some of the priorities of where we’re going to spend that money does indeed rest with the responsibility of this House and in committee, as well, and we’ll be proceeding with that soon, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, we appreciate any amount of chipsealing on the roads, even if it’s repairs and, no matter how small the distance, it’s better than nothing as has been the case in the last number of years. I would like to ask the Minister to indicate what other steps are required to look at the chipsealing of the remaining 100 or so kilometres. Are there engineering studies required before any further work can be done? Is it going to be part of a broader plan to look at how do we deal with these long ignored roads in the Northwest Territories while all attention is paid on Highway No. 3 and the Ingraham Trail? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The section that we are chipsealing is kilometre 88 to 106. We are looking at the whole highway system. We are dedicating some resources to an engineering study, Mr. Speaker, that will tell us exactly what the deficiencies are on Highway No. 5 and where we must strategize and look forward to, hopefully, eventually chipsealing the whole highway. I know that’s in the Member’s long-range plan as well as ours. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

God willing, Mr. Speaker, I’ll live long enough to be able to still have my licence and drive across the fully chipsealed Highway No. 5.

---Laughter

I’d like to ask the Minister if he could indicate to this House when does he anticipate this engineering study to be complete and is the intention to include those recommendations in the upcoming 2008-09 business plan? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we’re looking at completing it throughout the course of the summer and this fall and certainly the areas that need immediate remediation will certainly be addressed and discussed as we sit down and discuss the capital planning this summer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Supplementary To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to get the Minister to speak specifically to the issue of will those recommendations be brought forward through the business planning process that is now, in fact, underway for the 2008-09 business planning cycle that the new incoming 16th Assembly will be looking at? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 37-15(6): Resurfacing Highway No. 5

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We’ll certainly look at discussing the needs for Highway No. 5 in the current business planning cycle. Mahsi cho.