Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Transportation regarding the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, specifically about the progress the department has made to fulfill the social and environment commitments made before construction began. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is a national level strategic project that is much more than a construction of a highway. Both contractors, EGT and Northwind, are gaining experience in major construction project management, logistics management, human resource management, media relations, and financial management. This experience will give them the confidence to take on further challenges that will enable them and the people who work for them to be successful. This capacity building benefit will assist northern companies to become strong and capable, and have the confidence to take on future challenges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Another aspect of capacity building is in delivering training opportunities to residents in the region. Can the Minister detail the training opportunities available to residents?
Delivering meaningful training opportunities contributes to a sustainable future of northern residents who wish to enter into the construction industry. To date, the contractors' training focuses have been on operating heavy equipment. As I mentioned earlier this week, more than 70 people from the region are now trained as heavy equipment operators, and more than 30 individuals have been trained as Class 1 and Class 3 drivers with air brakes. Another heavy equipment operator training course is going to be available for Beaufort-Delta residents in the 2016 season. Nine seats are available in a 15-week course that will be delivered in Fort Smith beginning in April.
We encourage residents to contact Aurora College for more information and apply on these courses. These training opportunities will provide valuable and transferable skills to allow residents to take advantage of job opportunities associated with other developments ongoing across the Northwest Territories.
During the environmental assessment for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway project, the Department of Transportation made many commitments about reducing its impacts on the environment and the people of the Inuvialuit settlement region. My question is: how does the department track its progress on these commitments, and how is the department measuring its performance against those commitments?
The department has made over 230 commitments during the environmental assessment, and each one has been implemented, monitored, and reported on. Most of the commitments are also being tracked through the regulatory approval, such as land use permits and water licences. These permits and licences come with all typical monitoring and reporting, so there's constant and timely feedback. We track the status of all commitments on a real-time basis, and any issues or potential issues are brought forward to the management group on a timely action.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister provide assurance that the department is implementing its environment stewardship responsibilities for this project? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
The department is working closely with many regulators that have mandates regarding the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, including the Inuvialuit Land Administration and the Inuvialuit Water Board, as well as the departments of Lands and Environment and Natural Resources. Recognizing that the new highway will change access to fantastic nearby fisheries, the department has provided funding and other resources to fishery managers to create a fisheries management plan along the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway corridor. To satisfy wildlife commitments that came from the environmental assessment, DOT is working very closely with the local ENR office by supporting a dedicated ENR wildlife biologist. That biologist also works closely with the environment and wildlife monitors working for the ILA and for the contractor. These monitors are on site whenever there is active work going on, in order to observe the wildlife and report any potential impacts.
In addition, the department has three environmental staff dedicated to this project. One focuses on the regulatory requirements and environment commitments. Two others are located in Inuvik and are permanently working on the highway. They work with the contractors' staff, environmental and wildlife monitors, and any stakeholders and regulators to ensure nothing is missed and as issues arise.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
