Masi, Mr. Speaker. Work conditions at the Edzo highway camp have virtually destroyed morale among the dedicated workers who staff that facility. I do have questions regarding this for the Minister of Infrastructure. What is the current staff complement at the Edzo highway camp, and how long has this staffing shortage been allowed to continue? Masi.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's unsettling to me to hear that morale in the camp is not good. I commit to the Member that this will change. I understand that the Member would like to see more involvement from senior management in the camp, and I commit that we will improve upon that, Mr. Speaker, and do better. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for her acknowledgement on the Highway No. 3 Edzo camp. Obviously, there needs to be more work in that area. Mr. Speaker, just moving on to a second question that I do have, I did speak to the Minister a bit on this. What steps has the Minister's department taken to beef up the staffing levels with summer student hires? I understand the Yellowknife highway maintenance camp has already hired two. Why is there a wait on the Edzo camp, Mr. Speaker? It's already June.
This summer, the North Slave highway operations is hiring four casual labours, two for the Yellowknife camp and two for the Behchoko camp. The regional manager of highways has staffed the two Yellowknife casual positions through the casual pool in accordance with the Affirmative Action Policy. Presently, the two candidates identified for Behchoko are in the reference check phase and should be staffed soon.
That's great to hear. The workers have been asking me the last couple of weeks now, so I'm glad it's coming. The sooner, the better. Mr. Speaker, the third question I have is pertaining to the Edzo highway camp. How long has it been since the Edzo highway camp was provided with new equipment, such as loaders, packers, trailers, generators, sweepers, and distributor trucks? Mr. Speaker, they have been using old equipment all these years, so I have that question for the Minister today.
The past two light duty trucks purchased for highway staff saw one vehicle go to the Yellowknife camp and the other to the Behchoko camp. We are purchasing two loaders this summer, one for the Yellowknife camp, one for the Behchoko camp. Both the Yellowknife camp and the Edzo camp have aging equipment and vehicles and the department is working on a solution to update both equipment and vehicle requirements at both locations. I can tell the Member that the North Slave Behchoko will be receiving a new plough dump truck valued at $400,000, and they will also be receiving a wheel loader valued at $130,000.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. Obviously, the Edzo highway camp, the crew will be happy with this announcement. They have been waiting for some time now, so it's good. Mr. Speaker, my last question to the Minister was alluded to earlier. Would the Minister please provide a complete schedule of the past visits to the Edzo highway camp by either herself, regional manager, superintendent, assistant deputy minister, deputy minister? Would she commit to having her department or her staff or herself travel the road to visit and meet with the staff of the Edzo highway crew? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
As part of the transition with the regional superintendents, it is my understanding that the new superintendent did visit the camp. However, I don't know when the date of that was. I am disappointed to hear that the employees at the camp are not feeling supported or enough interaction with senior management, so I commit to the Member that, not only will senior management go, I will also go to the camp. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Good, Minister. Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
