Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the economy, environment and climate change among the priorities identified by the 18th Legislative Assembly, the Government of Northwest Territories is pleased to highlight the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway construction project as a leading example of economic diversification and environmental stewardship. Since the third construction season began in early January, already more than 300 individuals are back at work on the project. Over 70 per cent of the contractors' 24-hour workforce is comprised of residents of the Beaufort-Delta region and other NWT communities. The contractors' workforce peaked at over 600 employees during the busiest part of construction season in March of last year, a substantial contribution toward creating northern jobs.
The project is also fulfilling the 18th Assembly’s priority to foster life-long learning, skills development, training, and employability by delivering meaningful training opportunities. Already over 130 people have taken advantage of the training offered on different types of rock truck and excavator equipment using a simulator. Ten heavy equipment operators received additional training over the summer of 2015 and another 12 heavy equipment operation training opportunities are anticipated in 2016. Frontline project personnel are also receiving valuable training on practices necessary to protect water resources during highway construction through a Department of Transportation developed course called Working Near Water. Nationally accredited training in erosion and sediment control practices has also been delivered. This is in addition to the Predator Defence Training to ensure continued safety of staff on site to help minimize potential negative encounters with wildlife.
Our contractor EGT Northwind is focused on hauling and placing approximately 1.4 million cubic metres of material this season to construct approximately 50 km of embankment. Work also includes installing four bridges and 19 major culverts. The contractor’s goal is to see the north and south construction spreads joined towards the end of April. We are pleased to confirm that the project remains on schedule and continues to be managed within the $299-million budget. All operations of this project are subject to continuous monitoring by regulatory agencies. The Department employs construction and operational procedures that use the best environmental practices to ensure wildlife, land, fisheries, and water resources are protected with wildlife and environmental monitors on site 24 hours a day. Staff continues tracking progress on the 286 regulatory commitments to ensure the project is delivered in a manner that addresses the concerns, expectations, and requirements of all parties involved.
This is a one-of-a-kind highway infrastructure project. It's engineered to protect the region's continuous permafrost environment by adapting innovative construction methods. The Department of Transportation is organizing a science summit in April for world experts in permafrost, cold-region engineering, and northern infrastructure to see the project, watch construction, and visit two separate research-development test sites sponsored by Transport Canada's Northern Adaptation Initiative. One project constructed at Kilometre 22 will test the performance of alternative drainage structures. The goal is to find ways to minimize ineffective water drainage on highway embankments near drainage structures. A particular focus of this project is to reduce heat transfer through various types of drainage structures. The second research project, at Kilometre 82, involves building a deep-fill embankment section to assess the benefits of adding geotextile materials between successive lists of material to add stability. In addition, the embankment is instrumented with over 70 thermistor devices to monitor ground temperature. The aim is to improve highway construction methods in the future by gaining a better understanding of permafrost conditions.
In addition to the science community, the construction project continues to receive attention from international audiences already planning to drive or cycle what will become Canada's only public highway to the Arctic Coast. The author of a recent feature in the New York Times' travel section wrote that during his career as an American diplomat visiting places like France, Israel, and Haiti, the Arctic expanse in Canada is the most exotic place he's been. Progress of the construction of the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway is exciting to observe. Once completed, Northerners will have the contribution, fulfilling a vision of Canada's connection by road from coast to coast to coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Ministers’ statements. Minister responsible for NWT Housing Corporation.
