[English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, keeping what we have is sometimes the most strategic thing we can do. In my riding I have two important highways, Highway No. 1 and Highway No. 7, that have deteriorated significantly this spring. We have had emergency situations. At the Fort Simpson section, Highway No. 5, they have a sinkhole, and on Highway No. 7, the Liard highway, we are just plain sinking.
There are two large sections of that highway that have just turned into mud. It is very impassable to the travelling public, and lots of people were impeded during the long weekend. In fact, I was just advised that the department has made a decision to shut down the highway today. Regrettably, that was the right decision to make, and they’ll continue to interrupt the travelling public.
Constituents have advised me that the Department of Transportation has known about these potential mud sections for years and could have avoided shutting down the highway by repairing and replacing those sections.
The key here, I believe, is that we must invest in and maintain our existing infrastructure before we invest in some new initiatives. I request at this time that these conditions be declared an emergency and that the funds be provided to repair and replace the sections instead of just letting it dry up so we can continue to use the same old roads.
I believe it’s time to fix those roads so we are not in this situation again in the Nahendeh riding. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
