Debates of May 27, 2005 (day 3)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of Transportation. Just yesterday I went to the Deh Cho First Nation meeting in Fort Liard. The second sentence, after how are you, was when will you fix this road, meaning Highway No. 7 from Fort Simpson to Fort Liard. They also indicated that you should have driven that so you know what we are talking about. Indeed, I can assure my constituents, Madam Chair, that last week I did have the experience of driving to and from Fort Liard. My question to the Minister is constituents have been telling Transportation verbally and in writing about the condition of the road. Why have there been no repairs or improvements made to Highway No. 7 in the past month, Madam Chair? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 29-15(4): Condition Of Highway No. 7

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, there is a period of time between winter and summer, it’s called spring…

---Laughter

…when we have difficulty to provide any type of meaningful maintenance on our roads, be it chipseal or gravel. There is a period of time that we need to allow our roads to thaw. We have recognized the increased level of traffic on all our roads in the NWT. We have concerns being raised by people across the Northwest Territories on our gravel roads and on our roads that are chipsealed; however, we need to be able to do our repairs when the roads are thawed. We have looked into the situation where concerns have come from; the Deh Cho communities on Highway No. 7. We have done an inspection just last week and we have instructed our contract crews to start doing repairs. We should also point out that we are continuing to improve Highway No. 7. We have committed to spend over $4 million on that section of road to try to deal with the level of traffic and to increase the upkeep of the road and do some major reconstruction on some of the bridges and some sections of that road to improve it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 29-15(4): Condition Of Highway No. 7

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just wanted to indicate to the honourable Minister that when constituents lodge formal complaints, be it verbal or written, the department should be responsive to them and indicate what they are actually going to do about the ruts in the road that they are concerned about. Mostly it’s a safety factor, Madam Chair. As well, I do have to concur with the Minister that we found some extra money for Highway No. 7 to upgrade and improve it. But, Madam Speaker, when will the department start spending that money we have? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 29-15(4): Condition Of Highway No. 7

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I apologize to the Member if any complaints that have come forward have not been responded to, and I would certainly like to speak with the Member to see where those complaints are coming from and who it was addressed to. We make every effort to respond to all issues that are brought forward, be it from headquarters or the region. We will contact our staff to see if any complaints have come forward that we haven’t dealt with. As to when we will start spending money on Highway No. 7, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that we started spending money on Highway No. 7 two years ago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 29-15(4): Condition Of Highway No. 7

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The Minister indicates that there has been work on Highway No. 7 and I have to reiterate a word I learned earlier in the week, it’s woefully inadequate, Madam Speaker.

Woefully!

So I think the plan here is if the Minister can indicate to his department about the communities and tell them about this plan, because it’s just not apparent and people aren’t seeing anything done. If the Minister can indicate to the communities about what that plan is, that would be appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 29-15(4): Condition Of Highway No. 7

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will certainly take the Member’s advice. We will commit to have our staff go into the communities to meet with the community leaders and present what our plans are. I should point out, in some cases a lot of the work that’s being done that is requiring some investment and some expenditure is hard to see physically because some of it is in design, some of it is in stockpiling the gravel, and some of it is in restructuring plans. We will certainly take that as direction to go to the communities in the Deh Cho and present those future plans. Thank you.