Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement. As I mentioned, the department is doing brush cutting to the Dempster Highway which is much needed. As I travel through all the different highways, whether it's to the Yukon or even from here, Mr. Speaker, it makes a huge difference; much more safe for drivers. I'd just like to ask the Minister: is the Minister and the department planning to continue brush cutting next year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Transportation.
First of all, I want to thank the Member for his compliments today. Brush cutting is very important to the safety of all residents travelling on the Dempster. I had the opportunity this year to travel with the Member up and down the Dempster and see some of the challenge areas where we have a lot of willows. This year, we did approximately two hectares of brushing on the highway. We did from kilometre 75 to 95, and the coming year we have approximately five hectares of brushing, so more than double what we did this year, and we're going to do from kilometre 95 to 142.
That's spooky, that's just what I thought the --
---Laughter
-- Minister might say. No, that's great, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, I noticed a big difference in driving that highway over the last couple of years. I'd just like to ask the Minister: is the department going to continue working with the contractors as we move into next year?
To inform this House, we actually have a five-year labour supply contract that started in May of 2015, with Rat River Development Corporation, so that's going to go to 2020.
Mr. Speaker, that's great, but we also have a Rat River Corporation Band Limited and the Inuvik Native Band, I believe. Will the Minister and the department continue working with those two contractors as well?
As plans move forward and we develop our business cases for the next consecutive years we will continue to look at all people and opportunities and engage all Aboriginal groups in the settlement area to be involved in the contracting.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All I heard there was blah, blah, blah.
---Laughter
You know, Mr. Speaker, as winter is coming along here even though there's not much snow I'm hoping that, for example, in Tsiigehtchic that they can finish their contract. But, you know, if by chance we get too much snow and the work can't be done, will the Minister be willing to extend that work into next year? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will look into this particular contract, but I suspect that, depending on where they're at, we can have a look at carrying this work over.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
