Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Yakeleya, any more general comments?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to say to the Minister and the department that, certainly, there’s always huge interest in terms of infrastructure in our smaller communities, especially the ones that seem to need it more in terms of bringing down the cost of living or just have accessibility to other things similar to where communities have all-season roads. I’m just talking about the access into the Sahtu and into other communities that have roads into their communities. I just wanted to say to the Minister that we certainly appreciate the infrastructure dollars coming into our region and how it gets spread across in terms of satisfying all the other regions also for their infrastructure needs. I know it’s a challenge and I certainly hope that through the Minister and his department, to put together some creative arguments and solutions towards the federal government in terms of how do we get more dollars into building up our infrastructure in our communities. I know it’s desperately long thought after in terms of, say, for example, the Bear River bridge in my region. It’s something that we could certainly use. Also, the industries such as oil and gas companies coming, that they can use an extra month of drilling. That means extra dollars of money into the Northwest Territories. It does help us ease with the safety issue and now the discussion on climate change. So those kinds of things are important there.
So I guess what I wanted to say to the Minister is that I know there is a lot of work being done, a lot of good work is going to get done in the North here, and we certainly appreciate the money being spent in our region in terms of building up our infrastructure. We’re finally starting to see some of our equipment being worked more than three or four months of the year. It’s stretched out to six or seven months, which is a good sign for us. So I just wanted to say that to the Minister in terms of his ability and his team members to go to Ottawa and continue to get more funding and look at other funding avenues to look at some creative ways as to how do we get infrastructure into our regions. That would probably make a lot of people happy on this issue here. I’ll leave it at that, Mr. Chair. Just more comments to the Minister and his staff.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I’m sure the Minister appreciates your comments. We’ll go to the next person on my list, Mr. Krutko. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, in regard to the capital estimates, I think that the Department of Transportation has to seriously look at the high cost of maintenance in regard to our highway systems, but more importantly, with the changing climate and the effects that we’re seeing, especially in regard to some sort of...You know, we talk about dust control, we talk about some sort of a road resurfacing appliance that we can put on our roads. I know there are different products that are out there, but I think, as a government, we have to seriously start testing these products on the highways that basically have a hardtop. I think that we’ve seen what it’s done in regard to Highway No. 3 and how we’ve seen an increase in regard to paving and chipseal. I think we also have to look at other new initiatives that are out there for resurfacing. There are appliances we’ve put on our airports. I know in Aklavik they use it. Also, there are new products out there. I know in the past we have requested from the Dempster Highway to try to do some of this resurfacing as a pilot project. We can maybe try it out on the issue in regard to potholes and the cost of maintenance in regard to Highway No. 7, Highway No. 8, and especially where we have major O and M costs associated with having to go out every time there’s a rainstorm, because of the potholes, or looking at the possibility of trying these new appliances for resurfacing.
So I would just like to ask the Minister of Transportation, would he consider looking at going forward in the capital budget to look at the possibility of doing some of these sorts of pilot projects? I mentioned Highway No. 7, Highway No. 8. Maybe just outside the communities so we can see how it holds up. Like, most of the communities, basically, do have some means of applying surface materials. Like in McPherson now we basically have chipseal on the main street, which the municipality sort of manages. Either from the community to the garbage dump or from the community out to the ferry landing, whatever. But I think it’s something that this government has to seriously consider looking at, especially looking at that as a pilot project. So I’d just like to ask the Minister, has your department considered looking at that in light of the high cost of O and M in regard to resurfacing our highways every time we have either a snowstorm or basically have a major downpour of rain in which we see potholes? That’s when we seem to get the majority of the complaints from the general public. So I’d like to ask, is that something the department is considering looking at?
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chair, the Member raises an issue that has been somewhat of a challenge over the years for us as a department. We’ve looked at a number of ways that we can suppress the dust on our highways. We’ve also done the same in a lot of the communities. We’ve used different methods and products over the years, calcium, of course, being the cheapest one; however, a very limited lifespan, about one year for calcium. We’ve also used EK35 on some municipal roads and we also used it on airports. It’s a product that’s fairly cheap, but the lifespan of EK35 is somewhat limited, it doesn’t stand up well to high speeds and turning vehicles. So we are kind of limited to a number of methods, one being chipseal, and we have applied the product on a lot of the southern parts of the Territories and we are starting to move forward on Highway No. 1 towards Fort Simpson.
The other products, of course the most favourable product but the most expensive is asphalt. It has a longer lifespan but is very, very costly to apply. So we are looking at new possibilities and other methods of applying dust suppressant. We are convinced it does lower our maintenance costs, but we need something that can be affordable. One product that has come forward that we are currently going to be testing is called Easy Street. It’s cheaper than paving but it’s more expensive than chipseal, and we are being told that it’s also more durable.
All these different applications of dust suppressants on the roads are, of course, based on having a really good foundation. We need to have roads that are well reconstructed with good material. That’s the case in the Member’s riding. There has been a lot of work in the last while on reconstruction. Right now, it’s still a priority that we’d like to consider and we’re looking at ways we can do a test pilot project in his riding or on one of the roads in his riding. We, of course, have to look at the cost factor and we have to look at how do we maintain it. Right now, there is no equipment in that area and that would have to be purchased. So all things have to be considered. Having said that, it’s something that we’d like to keep in mind for the long term. Right now I think there’s 35 kilometres towards the border that we’d like to focus on for this coming year and get completed over this year and next year, but it’s not something we’ve ruled out yet. Thank you.
Mr. Chair, again, I think that is one way that we can look at it by way of, say, a pilot project on the different highway systems, Highway No. 7, Highway No. 8, and see exactly how this can be applied and tested in those different areas to see how it holds up. Because we are seeing a major difference in regard to the type of weather that’s shifted by way of climate change, the major downpours that we’re seeing by way of major rainstorms, which we haven’t really seen in the past. Also, we’re seeing with permafrost and the effect that it’s having in regard to the changing climate and the temperature and the different weather patterns we’re seeing it is very much affecting the overall condition of our highways. Again, if there is a way that we can find to resurface, protect the surface of our highways, avoid the affect we’re seeing with moisture added to the road that is basically mostly built with gravel and mud that you can get by that.
So, again, you mentioned something about Easy Street. Well, hopefully we can go down the easy street and apply this stuff and we’ll have a better product that we can drive on. Again, I’d just like to ask, would you consider seriously looking at coming forward with some sort of a pilot project in next year’s budget to look at possibly applying some of this stuff to the two highways I mentioned, Highway No. 8 and Highway No. 7, and just see how it holds up on certain sections of the roads? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. For the record, Minister Miltenberger has directed me to Minister McLeod. Minister Michael McLeod.
Mr. Chairman, I can commit to the Member that we can do an analysis of what the cost would be to apply different types of dust suppression and highway top, whether chipseal or Easy Street asphalt, and look at the cost, look at the benefits and look at the possibilities, and share that information with the Member and have a discussion before next year’s budget. We are still at a point where we don’t know what the actual cost and benefit would be from Easy Street. The product is manufactured in Alberta and it’s quite a distance to truck it all the way to the Dempster. So we’d have to see if there was another facility maybe in the Yukon or if there was something similar that could be utilized. But I can commit to the Member that we’ll look at all possibilities and report back to him.
Just finishing off on my favourite subject in regard to access roads to gravel sources and I think if I don’t respond to it, it won’t be doing justice to the residents of Aklavik. I think that we have to realize that it’s critical that we look at opening up gravel sources around communities and, more importantly, it’s not only for the community, it’s for the regions, it’s for the development of industry, it’s for the expansion of connecting communities, and I think we have to look at these developments in regard to long-term investments. I noted that we have to realize there have been motions passed in this House to look at these as priorities.
Again, I’d just like to raise the issue with the Ministers of Finance and Transportation, just to realize the importance that government has to play in a supportive role to ensure that we assist communities. We have the expertise, we have the people in the department who basically are responsible for building highways, maintaining highways, building roads, airports and whatnot. By having that expertise and also accessing funds from the federal government, regardless if it’s Building Canada Fund, P3 funds or even looking at the possibility of research and development funds, we have to be able to achieve these projects.
But more important for myself is the Aklavik access road to the gravel source. There has been a preliminary study done. They’re now suggesting taking it to the second phase, which is more in regard to an in-depth engineering design phase. So I’d just like to know from the department exactly where is it going forward in the budget that those dollars can be accessed similar to the arrangement in regard to the Tuk access road project, which we’re able to access Building Canada funds and I believe the community of Aklavik is requesting a similar arrangement so that they can also look at it. Again, we just heard from the P3 funds that’s possibly out there. That could be another option. So I’d just like to know what options are out there for the community to move this project forward and assist other communities that have a similar challenge about having access to gravel, which is essential for community building. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Minister Miltenberger has directed me to go to Minister McLeod. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess there are a couple of options out there. The community has done a very good job of doing a study that brought the information forward that brought us to this stage where we will probably need a project description report done on the route and the environmental side of it, and also look at the economics of it. Of course, a large stockpile by all stakeholders for gravel needs for the next five years is probably the cheapest way to go, but the community has been very determined that they need a gravel source and we’ve been very cooperative with them. The next step is still yet to be determined. The report has just come out a couple of months ago and it was not something that was readily available for everybody to come up with an opinion.
My position is that there is the Community Adjustment Fund that I would like to see the community put an application in. I’d be happy to work with them on trying to secure the money, the $1.2 million that’s required for the next step, the next phase, which is the PDR. The Member mentioned that the P3 is available and it is. The community is free to apply for P3. It’s going to require three-quarters of the dollars required for the project to be invested by someone, more than likely by the community. So there are a couple of options open. We would like to sit down and discuss the options with the steering committee and the leadership of the community as to what the next steps are going to be. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next on my list is Mr. Beaulieu, but before we go there, we’re on general comments. If we have specific questions, let’s save the specific questions on individual projects to the detail line. Next on my list, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First I’d like to ask if you could recognize Laura Boucher in the gallery from Fort Resolution.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I think you already did. Welcome to the gallery. Back to Mr. Beaulieu, general comments.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess I did have more specific questions, but I’ll try to keep them as general as possible.
On the runway stabilization of the Department of Transportation, the projects, I noticed that there is a project cost only for this year in the plan. I’m curious as to what system the department uses to purchase the products, because the products are already in the communities but there’s no prior year’s cost.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister Miltenberger is directing me to go to Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Neudorf.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is an ongoing project for the department. We have traditionally allocated $300,000 per year. So there would be funding in the current year of $300,000 that would have to be used to purchase the product. We typically purchase in the year prior and then over the next two years that follow would install the product on the runway. Thank you.
Thank you. I don’t wish to belay the issue, but I’m still not quite understanding how the system works. If there is no money allocated in a prior year but the product is already there, there’s money allocated this year to apply the product. I’m wondering if this substantiation is just incomplete or if there’s another way that the product was purchased.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. For the record, Minister Miltenberger is directing me to go to Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Neudorf.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This would be an ongoing project. So we would have $300,000 in the current year for runway stabilization. Thank you.
I just confused current year with the budget year that we’re referring to for a second there. On the Highway No. 6, I guess to ask the question that I guess is a similar type of question to how the budgeting works, I noticed that the project title indicates that this project goes from kilometre 0 to kilometre 90, but the actual budget, prior year’s budget plus this upcoming year’s budget will all be spent on kilometre 67 to kilometre 90. So I’m wondering if this again is an item where the budget will eventually be cash flowed out at the same amount that’s indicated in 2010-11 all the way to 2014-15.
The Member is correct that with the funding that shows in the capital plan here, both the current year and then 2010-11, we will be working toward putting a chipseal surface on the highway from kilometre 67 to kilometre 90 into the community. We do hope that once that gets done, we will be able to come forward through our capital planning process to see if we can find some additional funding so that we can continue with chipseal. Of course, that will have to go through the GNWT capital planning process to see if it’s priority and see if we can find the funding that’s available in GNWT capital. Thank you.
So I’m wondering if the money was to be cash flowed out fully to essentially the next five years, counting this upcoming fiscal year, could that flow into the budget and becomes a part of the previously committed section of the acquisition plan.
I’m not sure I understand the question completely, so if I get it wrong, then perhaps the Member could clarify, but we identified the funding for this project. It initially came from one of the strategic initiatives of the government: reducing the cost of living. We were able to top that budget up somewhat with funding from the Build Canada Plan. So we’re getting funding from the two sources, both the GNWT and then the federal Build Canada Plan. We had initially identified a source of funding and we put it forward in this project with I’m not sure exactly where we were going to spend the money, which kilometres we would focus the funding on. As we’ve done more engineering assessments, as we’ve talked to the communities we’ve realized we’ve got enough funding to do about that 23 kilometres that we mentioned before. That is the highest priority from the DOT perspective, from the community perspective. So we’re going to focus the funding that we have there.
As I mentioned before, as we go forward we will, of course, see if we can find some more money to continue with the chipseal. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Alright, next on my list is Mr. Jacobson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m happy to see the new air terminal buildings going up in three of my communities of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Tuktoyaktuk, but how are the timelines of getting the materials into the communities? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Mr. Neudorf.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funding for the three terminal building projects that the Member mentioned is coming from the federal government underneath the stimulus funding. So DOT will have a total of $3.4 million for those three terminal buildings cost shared 50/50 with the territorial government. Those projects were just officially approved by the federal government this summer and we are currently out for RFP design services on the terminals. We will finalize that this winter, get a contract in place, award that so that we can meet the first barge for delivery of material into the communities. If there is an opportunity to move some material into Tuk this winter, then, certainly, we’ll take advantage of the winter road that’s there. Since this is federal stimulus funding, we have to have the project complete by March 31, 2011, and that will be a challenge, but we have a plan to meet that target. Thank you.
I am really happy to hear what the deputy minister had to say. Regarding the contractors, in any of our contracts that are given out to the communities across this Territory, you know, priority should be given to local businesses, and through the RFP I hope that is going to happen and how, with the flow-through of the funding, just make sure that everything is utilized with northern businesses. That is more of a comment. I have more questions on the page by page. So thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Minister Miltenberger, to the comment.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Government of the Northwest Territories will employ all the contracting standards and regulations that are there to promote maximum northern involvement in all these projects. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Next on my list is Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much there, Mr. Chair. I just have a few general comments, no specific questions at this time. Just picking up from my colleague Mr. Jacobson’s comment on maximizing benefits for communities through contracting services, I spoke earlier in my Member’s statement about an issue in one of my communities, the community of Wrigley. There is a big $15 million contract, seemingly little benefit flowing to the community. I believe government does have a role in it.
I believe we have to do our best to maximize opportunities, employment of those communities. We talk about it all the time. We talk about developing the capacity of our communities, developing training, and any time we got a contract or even a larger contract, it’s an opportunity to benefit those communities. So I am glad to hear the Minister indicates some policy around it. But in its application, Mr. Chair, I believe we have to be more prudent. We have to be more involved.
The community of Wrigley spoke about requesting assistance from Department of Transportation officials and they weren’t helpful at that point. I think they were trying to take hands-off opportunities. They’re in a contract, they can do what they want. Still, we keep track of government dollars and that’s a government contract and we should have a say and I think we do. It’s just a matter of how we apply our persuasiveness, I suppose, Mr. Chair.
Just in terms of the Transportation capital plan, I believe that is a good investment. I believe the department works hard in trying to make sure everybody gets their fair share of projects, at the same time, identifying and completing priority infrastructure repairs and/or replacements.
In my riding, particularly with highways, there were a few deferred projects especially on one that was a priority, which is Highway No. 7. The portion from the B.C. border and Fort Liard, I think there is 34 kilometres. There was supposed to be $4 million of investment there. That wasn’t done at all. We deferred. As well as the collapse of Highway No. 7 at around 166. I kept checking all summer. We have secured the additional million dollars last year, if you remember, Mr. Chair, to ensure that we rebase that road, but I didn’t see it done this year. The contract did go out, but once again it was delayed late into September and it does have an issue.
Community residents of Fort Liard, even in Nahanni Butte, are saying in July and August were good construction weather, but we wait until September to get mobilized and it rains the whole month of September. So they just don’t see the logic at all, Mr. Chair. If anything, at this point, I would urge that any deferred projects, to try to get that done as soon as possible. I know there were many other projects happening and tied up equipment that could have been available for those projects. But just the same, moving forward, I just wanted to reiterate the concerns of my constituents and myself that it is a priority for our region, and I would like to see it done early in the construction year for 2010.
As well, in the capital plan, I see provision for airport lighting for other communities throughout the North. That’s something that has been high on my agenda for Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte. I will continue to convey that. I would like to see it as a priority for our communities as well. So I will continue to speak on that, Mr. Chair.
As well, I think I spoke many times, as our 16th Assembly, if we are going to leave a legacy behind us as an Assembly, I believe we should start moving towards chipsealing. That’s a tangible asset that’s something that constituents and residents throughout the North can see us actually physically working us. We’ve got lots of good programs and services, but I believe that the people only see something tangible like improved highways. Mr. Beaulieu spoke about that as well, as well as did Mr. Krutko on the Dempster Highway. I would like to see us work towards that in this Assembly. Expansion up until the year 2011 when we’ve got at least control over the budget and, of course, the 17th Assembly takes over after that. So I continue to push for that. I think that’s a noble goal for this Assembly and our government to work towards. I am sure you will get support from this side of the House as we move through next year’s budgeting process.
I am glad to see, as well, that we are getting some chipsealing from Fort Providence junction towards Fort Simpson, about 70 kilometres. There again, I am not sure of the reasoning, but once again that was delayed. However, I was given assurances that it will be done early in the new fiscal year in 2010 and people from our riding are looking forward to it. They were quite excited about it this year when it was first announced about May or June. In our lifetime, we are probably going to see chipsealing from Simpson towards Hay River and/or Yellowknife. I would like to see the continuation of that project in 2010 and include, as well, more reconstruction of the Highway No. 1 road towards Fort Simpson replacing more culverts, because as soon as we do that, we are certainly upgrading the road and making it wider to chipsealing standards. You know, it’s a big goal, but if we are doing 70 or 60 kilometres of chipsealing a year, I think that’s phenomenal and I am pleased that our government supports that and I certainly would continue to support that.
So with that, Mr. Chair, I’ve got no further questions. Just more of a comment. I look forward to deliberating the capital budget as we move forward this afternoon.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Minister Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There are a number of issues being raised here. First of all, the contract for Blackwater. I am sure the Member heard the disappointment in my voice when I responded to the question and especially the comments made that he was not happy with the government not responding.
Mr. Chairman, at the Member’s request, we did carve out a portion for earth works, so it would be negotiated with the community. We did also extend the deadline for the contract. We also responded to his request for a negotiated contract. We found extra dollars so we could negotiate the contract. The community has received 20 percent of the benefits of this contract already and the contract is not over. So it’s really hard to find substantiation to what more we can do. We can’t be involved directly with the subcontractors to negotiate any deals. That has to be done by the person that has the individual companies or the equipment that needs to be worked on.
We’ve committed, at his request, to start working towards chipsealing Highway No. 1 We had to go find extra dollars to do that and we are doing 70 kilometres. We’ve also found extra dollars over the last while to work on Highway No. 7. All of these things are in his riding. The work was tendered, it was awarded. There are some things that have been delayed that we can’t control if it’s because of weather. So the goals that we have set, we’ve really tried to support. We will continue to try to do that. But I think it’s really unfair for the Member to say we aren’t supporting him and his riding. Thank you.
I would like to thank the Minister for his explanations. I didn’t mean to poke him in the ribs, as it were there, Mr. Chair.
---Laughter
I am only conveying what the residents of Wrigley pass on to me with their dealings with the Department of Transportation in the Wrigley contract. The Minister mentioned other good investments in the Nahendeh riding, absolutely. We have developed a good working relationship with the Minister and the government, that the needs of my constituents and communities are being met. Just with clarification, it’s the current Blackwater Bridge contract that the community of Wrigley is having difficulties with and they conveyed that to me. I believe my role as MLA is to convey it to the Minister and to government that here we have some difficulties. We would like to work through these issues and when there is no movement on it, my role is to raise it publicly in the House. So I will continue to pursue my role, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Menicoche. I didn’t hear a question. Thanks for the comment. We are still on general comments. The next on my list is Mr. Yakeleya. Before we go to Mr. Yakeleya, just a reminder that if you’ve got questions on specific projects, please save it for the detail. We are just on general comments. So to Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to focus my comments on the big picture within the department here and even with the GNWT. I would look forward to looking into details of the program that the department has, the Drive Alive Program. It’s a program for the public in terms of safety issues and adults, young kids having safety programs in our schools and communities. I would like to ask some questions in that area of the safety programs and that initiative, certainly for safety for the people in my region that have about 800 kilometres of winter road from Wrigley to Colville Lake.
Safety is a real major factor. I want to again be pressing the Minister and the department on what type of work is going to be looked at in improving the road system, the grade system in terms of safety for the travellers and people who do come up to the Sahtu to visit. I want to see where traditional knowledge will be applied in terms of transportation for the areas in the Sahtu, the winter roads, and meeting with our people, the local contractors and seeing what areas are dangerous, what areas need to be looked at by the department and that stretch of highway here.
Mr. Chairman, also I would like to have some discussions around some of the bridge work that’s been done and the winter road. There are 36 bridges that have been completed. There are some that need to be worked on. There is always ongoing work on the bridges and the replacement of timber on the decks of the bridges. There is shifting of some of the bridges that our people have noticed over time. Certainly our department is well aware of this also. So I just wanted to look at some of the bridge work on the winter road system, particularly Oscar Creek. I know there is some planned work there. I think that is a long-standing bridge that people have also made comments as they drive by it on the way from Norman Wells to Fort Good Hope.
Mr. Chairman, the other one I want to ask the department is some of the projects that are happening in the Sahtu, some of the other ones like on the airport, so the road in terms of partnerships in terms of working with the department to see where partnerships can be sought after and discussed in terms of doing some work with the department here on their policy on partnerships.
Speaking of policy, Mr. Chairman, I understand that there is not a policy in terms of gravel source roads or all-weather roads into gravel sources. I know that there was some discussion here. Mr. Krutko had talked about it somewhat. I know there are more communities that are interested in accessing an all-weather road to the gravel source. It becomes very complicated discussion because of the costing factor, in terms of if you are going to do this, you are going to look at a lot of communities. However, it is an important issue here. Hopefully we have some discussion as to how we go forward in terms of having some kind of policy like that. It certainly requires some attention here.
Mr. Chairman, two more things I have on my list here. The government’s position has duly noted over here that the Mackenzie Valley Highway is a priority. I know the department has talked about doing some work in the future in terms of advancing some of that work in terms of some baseline studies. I understood that there is some economic analysis on the Mackenzie Valley Highway construction. I wouldn’t mind having a report of that to look at in terms of continuous support on the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I am not too sure how this idea will be discussed within the department in terms of even a construction of a road here between Tulita and Norman Wells. That road here is quite expensive. I was hoping that people will be willing to look at it and have some discussion of working on this, similar to the Tuk gravel source 177. That source that the community of Tuktoyaktuk and the department worked successfully on together is on realignment of the Mackenzie Valley road from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. These types of discussion, I would like to see where the department is at.
I want to ask the department in terms of the winter road. Is that on our core national highway standards or are we linked somewhere in terms of some standards of funding in terms of where that winter road is? Or is it just the all-season road in the Northwest Territories that is on this standard here? If that is not the case, then I don’t know if we are going to be successful in trying to access dollars. That is something that I want to have a discussion on.
Lastly, Mr. Chairman, I want to just say to Mr. Krutko’s comments in terms of the road up in Inuvik -- it’s called Highway No. 8 -- I have driven it and I have also stated publicly that this road should have some attention in terms of dust control, suppressant or even chipsealing. That road is dusty and people out in Inuvik certainly need to have some attention in terms of having that road looked after in terms of having some dust control or suppressant on that whole highway or some kind of chipseal. It is a real shame that it doesn’t have anything yet. I know there is a lot of work being done on that highway there. Hopefully it will get there one day, because I have noticed that people up there talk about the amount of dust and I have seen it myself.
Mr. Chairman, these are my opening comments to the department.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Once again, the Member raises a lot of issues that are of concern in his riding. The issue of access road to gravel sources has become very popular or at least a common voiced concern here in this House and at a lot of our meetings. Right now we don’t have a program that allows for investment in roads to gravel sources. It is something that this government hasn’t had. I think the responsibility was devolved over to the municipalities through the New Deal program some years ago. We do have an Access Road Program that has a budget of $300,000 that communities access for various reasons. However, it is very oversubscribed. The budget doesn’t go very far. There has been some discussion through the Rural and Remote committee to see if there is any opportunity to encourage the government or redirect some money so that we could look at access roads to gravel sources. We have four communities in the Northwest Territories right now that have some challenges like finding gravel sources or hauling gravel from identified sources to the communities. I think that is a serious concern. We have to move forward on that.
The Mackenzie Valley Highway, of course, is a priority for this government. The Members of this House voted and passed a motion in this House here to recognize it as a priority. We, as a department, have been trying to find resources to make that move forward. We have hired a company to provide us with an analysis on the economic benefits. That report is in our hands now. The draft that we have looked at, or at least I have looked at, certainly shows that there are some very good returns on investment to create a Mackenzie Valley Highway. We also want to move forward to doing the project description report on all aspects of this road, the whole alignment, and we have identified $1 million for this year’s budget and another million for next year. That still leaves us quite short of what we actually require, which would be a total of $7 million. The federal government has invested in the portion from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik to the tune of $975,000, which should allow them to do the project description report. We are still trying to put together a plan to address the rest of the road. The Gwich’in have informed us that they are working with the feds to try to secure some dollars. They may need to come and work with us on finding some action funds. We, as a department, are having discussions or will be approaching the federal government to see if there are any dollars out there in any of the funding sources that are there.
The Member also raised the possibility of looking at a portion of the road to connect communities in his riding and whether the winter road would have to be recognized as part of the national highway system. In my opinion, there are programs that we can tap into for constructing and improving the grade. The new road is still the federal responsibility. The federal government will, of course, dictate how the criteria is drafted; they have up to now on all their programs. We certainly agree that Highway No. 8 is going to continue to need investment. We have enhanced our investment. It is roughly $8 million a year. It is going to probably require about $120 million or $130 million to construct the whole road. It is at the lifecycle that it needs to be reconstructed, so it will get attention. We will continue to provide improvements. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Next on my list is Mr. Beaulieu. Once again, a reminder that we are on general comments. Thank you. Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am interested in having the department look at expanding the Access Road Program. I think that we have several reasons for using the Access Road Program. I think one here has been to access gravel, as is the case in Tuktoyaktuk. I think Mr. Krutko has been asking for the same type of access to gravel for construction purposes and so on. The case has been used for better construction of infrastructure within the communities and so on.
There is also accessing communities, which, I guess, is essential, the development of access roads to access communities like Dettah, Nahanni Butte and so on and so forth. I would like to have the department consider looking at accessing traditional use areas. I think it, in my riding, has become probably the most important type of access that is needed. The accessing of gravel is not essential in the riding, because gravel is available along the highway in one community and, of course, within the community boundaries of another community or they have good access. But the community has a strong desire to look at accessing a traditional use area. I would like to start some sort of dialogue, I guess, with this department and also with the Energy department so that we can do something jointly or the Ministers’ Energy committee to do something in conjunction with the mini-hydro that is proposed halfway to the community that would like to access traditional use area.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Minister McLeod.
Mr. Chairman, I am certainly glad that the Member has recognized that there is a need for more money in our budget. Of course, once again, it is a matter of where our priorities are. We certainly could have set up our budget a little differently, but there is so much need right across the Territories.
Our goal was to try to target investment on all our road systems. We also had a number of ACAP program projects that we used to improve our airport and we also had the federal government come forward and announce some projects in Nunakput for the air terminals. Mr. Chairman, it is a matter of how do we invest and get the best return for our dollars.
The government went through an exercise where they looked at new strategic investments, and gravel roads I don’t believe made it as part of that. I am not sure if I am totally familiar with the mini-hydro project. That is something we would have to look at to see if there is any opportunity to piggyback on a project there or look at working and using some of the existing access dollars to help the community. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister McLeod. I have nobody else on my list. Does committee agree that we move on to detail?
Agreed.
Okay. We are on page 9-2 with the Department of Transportation, but we will defer that page until after consideration of activity summary. We shall move to page 9-4. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
We are on page 9-4 which is the Department of Transportation, activity summary, airports, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $17.510 million.
