Debates of March 18, 2004 (day 3)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that our cooler weather this winter has been favourable for the winter road system. The Department of Transportation had earlier scheduled this Tuesday for closing the Sahtu and Deh Cho winter roads. The cool weather, however, has allowed the department to get an extra week from the season and extend the closing date for the Wrigley-Tulita, Tulita-Deline and Tulita-Norman Wells winter roads until Monday, March 22, 2004. In order to comply with the Fisheries Act, the department will then begin clearing the stream crossings to make sure that no debris contaminates the waterways.

As weather conditions permit, the department will keep the Norman Wells-Fort Good Hope and Fort Good Hope-Colville Lake winter roads open for intercommunity travel on a day-to-day basis. Similarly, the Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte winter roads remain open on a day-to-day basis. Beyond Monday, March 22nd, though, these roads are subject to closure on short notice.

In the North Slave, the Wha Ti and Gameti winter roads will stay open as long as weather and travelling conditions permit. The Detah ice road will also remain open until the approaches deteriorate.

Regular maintenance on the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort ice roads to Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk will continue as scheduled until Friday, April 16, 2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause