Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is on a topic that I have raised in the House on previous occasions, and that issue is the Kam Lake access road and public safety. As the government is well aware, I have certain, let’s say, sensitivity over what happens adjacent to Highway No. 3, to an area known as the sandpits. As the controversy lingers as to what is going to happen on the parcel of land, I think it is timely that we keep in mind the fact that the city of Yellowknife is in great need of this access road into the Kam Lake Industrial Park.

I have had two meetings with representatives of the Northwest Territories Motor Transport Association. This is a group that represents motor transportation companies throughout the entire Northwest Territories. Our discussions centre around the need for this access road into the Kam Lake Industrial Park. The issue of public safety was, of course, our primary focus. The need is even more evident during the winter road season, when the city has up to 200 trucks per day of which two-thirds are fuel trucks heading north on the ice road.

Last summer there were two incidents at the Yellowknife Airport that brought some attention to the fact that there was only one route out of the city of Yellowknife. A missile dropped on the Yellowknife Golf Course and a CF-18 fighter jet skidded off the runway. Highway No. 3 was closed; there was no entry or exit into the city. With all of the industrial activity in the Kam Lake Industrial Park we have been fortunate not to have an accident, especially a fuel truck accident at the top of Kam Lake Road which would cut off access to the entire industrial park.

Mr. Speaker, the time has come to get this vital piece of roadwork started. The road is estimated to cost in the neighbourhood of $5.5 million. We must ensure that the GNWT is willing to work as closely as possible with the City of Yellowknife to make this access road a reality. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause