Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I rose to at least honour the people that made it possible for us to transport goods plus drive over the Deh Cho ice bridge for a long time. So my question is to the Minister of Transportation.
I’d like to know the status of the crew that used to make the ice bridge, at the same time just the status of the crew that operated the ferry and what are the plans for them. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wouldn’t know the status of the ice crew and what they were doing. I certainly would go back to the department and see if the department knows exactly what those folks are up to.
On the Merv Hardie ferry crew, there were a few employees, or most of the employees were of a casual nature. I believe others were offered employment elsewhere. To the exact status of those employees, I’d certainly be more than happy to get the Member the status of the employees that did serve us, and serve us very well, on both the ice crossing and on the Merv Hardie itself. Thank you.
I wanted to know if the Department of Transportation has any prepared plans in terms of helping the people that perhaps have been laid off, or in terms of trying to help them with making the transition to other employment opportunities. Mahsi.
Thank you. For employees that were affected by the discontinuation of service of the Merv Hardie, I’m certain that department officials were working with those employees. But again, for the specifics on what was offered to employees, that is something and a level of information that I don’t have with me today, but I’d certainly be more than happy to get that for the Member. Thank you.
Thank you. Switching to the big bridge that is in operation now, I just want to understand what are some of the immediate short-term and long-term plans for the maintenance of the bridge. For one thing, or a couple of things, I know there are concerns about eventually bison perhaps stopping the flow of traffic. Another concern is just the traffic lights. At what point do you see perhaps the establishment of those additions to the bridge? Mahsi.
Thank you. The Texas gates that will be installed on the north side of the bridge should be installed in the spring. Those will keep bison off of the bridge.
As to the maintenance, I believe the department continues to work with the community of Fort Providence and opportunities there to look at maintenance opportunities. As well, there are some other works that are going to be needed over the next eight to nine months, and certainly Deh Gah is going to be included in some of the work that is going to be required, remedial work on the bridge. I know they’ve partnered up with Ruskin to get some of this work done. So I’m happy to see that some more work will accrue to the community of Fort Providence, and some more employment opportunities as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps just to build upon that, is there, at some point, plans for a more festive opportunity for the communities to be involved with signalling another ceremony? I know there have been discussions in terms of another celebration this summer. Could the Minister update in terms of how the Department of Transportation might be involved with that opportunity?
Through the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and I know the Department of Transportation will be involved, we are certainly looking forward to some nicer weather, perhaps in June, to celebrate the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge and turn it into a more proactive tourism event to draw people there. I think the bridge in and of itself is a tourist attraction. Anybody that’s ever driven across the ice at Fort Providence or taken the Merv Hardie, who’s lived in the Northwest Territories and has done that, they’re going to want to come back and see the Deh Cho Bridge. Certainly, through the Department of ITI, working with Transportation, and with the community of Fort Providence it’s very important that we continue to work and have that dialogue with the community on preparations for an event sometime this spring or into June. I think we can certainly try to maximize the exposure and the opportunity that the Deh Cho Bridge has presented us.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
