Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod. I know the Minister knows how important the issue of an access road into Kam Lake Industrial Park is to me. I am wondering, from his role as the Minister of Transportation, how the granting of access to the Deton'Cho Corporation to access the sandpits is going to impact any future development of an access road into Kam Lake Industrial Park. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have indicated before, I have not seen a formal application from the Yellowknives Dene. However, we have had discussion as to the area that we have granted permission to access. It does not conflict with the airport development plan or the Kam Lake access road the city has been discussing. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The access road would go right through the land that was granted access to to Deton'Cho Corporation by the Minister in January. Does the Minister agree that an access road into an industrial park answers the issue of public safety currently at play here in the city of Yellowknife with truck traffic on roads in residential areas? If a residential housing development is put in at the sandpits, that access road would go right through it with truck traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Mr. Speaker, I think the Member has indicated that this road would go through the area that the Deton'Cho has applied for. Again, I have not seen an application from Deton'Cho Corporation or the Yellowknives Dene. Our plans are for an access road to the west side of the airport. The city has indicated their interest in the bypass road. We are having discussions and we have just recently seen the city’s development plan. We have recently concluded our development plan. We’re looking at combining and comparing them right now and this road does not -- once again -- does not go through the area that the Yellowknives Dene have asked for permission to access. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m concerned that the Minister has a bunch of different conflicting interests at play with that parcel of land. On the one hand, as the Minister of Transportation, he’s got the airport to be concerned about, he’s got this access road to be concerned about; but then, with his other hat on as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, he can grant access to Deton'Cho Corporation to that parcel of land for a housing development. I am wondering where his responsibility lies. Where is it? Is it with Deton'Cho Corporation? Is it with this access road? Is if for future airport expansion? Where is his responsibility? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the quick answer is all of the above. I am responsible, as the Minister of Transportation, for the airport development plan; I’m responsible, as the Minister of MACA, to deal with the city on the bypass road, there’s no legislative requirement. There’s an interest that makes good sense, we want to talk to them, we want to be able to include it in our plans. We are planning to do an assessment of the costs. We are planning to work out who would pay for it. We are starting to look at the needs in terms of engineering. We are working with the Yellowknives Dene where the request came from to look at doing some soil sampling. There is the scientific reserve that’s in the area. There are a number of issues that we’re dealing with. There are applications from the city for some land in the Kam Lake area. We are trying to do all of those things and make them all fit, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. How will the Department of Transportation, who is currently trying to work with the city on an MOU to pay for this road and to build this access road -- and that’s a known fact, that’s currently at play -- but then the Minister grants access to Deton'Cho Corporation to look at a housing development in that area. Is it an access road or is it a housing development, Mr. Speaker? That’s a legitimate question. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Mr. Speaker, it’s certainly a legitimate question, but I think I’ve answered it three times. There are no plans for an access road at this point. There is discussion. We’re going to do an assessment. The access road concept is not in the area that Deton'Cho has shown interest. It’s an area where their airport development plan has been identified and applied for. So it’s a different area. I don’t know how many times I’m going to say that, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to try this question again, but I’m trying to understand how a government could be working on an MOU for one area in one department and then in the other department is granting access to build a housing development. How does that happen and the Minister is responsible for both of them? Really, I haven’t heard a really solid answer as to what’s going on out there. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 429-15(3): Kam Lake Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s not a new situation. The government has to deal with a number of different issues. In this case, the Department of Transportation is working with the city to look at the concept of a bypass road. We’ve done some early cost estimates. The city has done some cost estimating. We have to do some engineering, we have to do some costing together. We have to look at who is going to pay for it, how we are going to pay for it. So we’re working with the city on that as the Department of Transportation. The city is dealing with the application for land requests by the Deton'Cho Corporation. I think it’s pretty clear. Mr. Speaker, they are in the same general area, but two different projects. Thank you.