Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the biggest or most important industries is the trucking industry in the Northwest Territories, to get those products to people in the Northwest Territories, getting food on their table. I have several questions for the Minister of Transportation.
As I was discussing earlier about innovation, this industry has been innovative and created new tri-drive, triple-axle trucks. They are not currently recognized in the Northwest Territories. Is the Department of Transportation looking to recognize this innovative new part of the trucking industry?
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. David Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for bringing this to our attention this last fall here. Certainly the department recognizes the importance. The regulations would require amendments, and we have them into Justice for formatting and translation. That’s a process that typically takes three to four months, but that work is in progress.
That’s good to hear. I have another question for the Minister in the area of these regulations. I’m wondering if, while we’re making these changes to the regulations, we have looked at other jurisdictions, our neighbours to the south and west of us, such as Alberta, BC and Yukon. Are we paralleling our regulations? Currently, I understand there’s a difference in regulations whether we have licence plates on the back or the front. Is the department looking at having a common or similar to the jurisdictions’ regulations to the Northwest Territories, ones that we’re making changes to?
We’re always looking to other jurisdictions. We always are paying attention to what other jurisdictions do, and through organizations like Westec and working with other Transportation Ministers, especially in Western Canada. That’s certainly an area where we can bring our concerns to the table and have them addressed. We certainly look forward to continuing to build relationships with other jurisdictions, especially here in Western Canada when it comes to regulations in the trucking industry.
Another concern that the trucking industry has indicated to me is the new bridge and the tolls. Has the department begun its discussion with this industry on how the tolls will be assessed and how it will be operated once the bridge is completed and ready to roll?
The answer to that is yes. We have had those discussions. I know I was helping the Member with a concern that one of his constituents had. I’d be happy to lead anybody in the right direction with the Department of Transportation to get the answers that people need in the advance of the bridge opening and tolls being collected at that bridge.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the winter season progresses, the trucking industry is trying to get all the product up North here. I’m just wondering if the department has actually set a date on that opening of the Deh Cho Bridge.
We haven’t got a firm date but it should be, the expectation is by the end of November. If it can happen before that, we’ll be advising the House of such.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
