Debates of June 2, 2005 (day 7)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, so many questions, so little time. I have narrowed down my questions to the Minister of Transportation. In Hay River, we saw a huge number of people from the surrounding communities participate in track and field. If only we had an all-weather road in the Sahtu, we would have seen an increase of participants going into Hay River. So, Madam Speaker, could the Minister commit that the future proposal going to the federal government will look at the small scale community approach to start building an all-weather road in the Sahtu region?

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

Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It wouldn’t be question period without a question on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. Madam Speaker, I certainly can commit that we are in the process of drafting a proposal to bring forward to the federal government. Historically, we have a highway strategy that we use. It was drafted in the year 2000 and is called Investing in Roads and includes the information and dollar amounts that we, at that time, recognized as the need for infrastructure and the road system and the highway transportation system in the Northwest Territories. I will certainly commit to the Member that we will share any information that comes forward.

As part of our new proposal, we would like to share that with the committee. We would also like to share that information with the other Members who have requested and identified new transportation systems and links in the Northwest Territories. We also will share with the Member some of the Canada-wide initiatives taken on by the Premier in his discussions with the western Premiers on a transportation strategy. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. In the original proposal under the Corridors for Canada, the funding was never identified for roads in that proposal. I am asking for future proposals, but I am not sure if it’s going to be in the future proposal. It’s hard to believe that the best bush road is the Ingraham Trail just out of Yellowknife. It’s paved. You have millions of dollars going in there, yet our region is left out of the all-weather road system. How can the Minister give satisfaction to the people in the Sahtu that an all-weather road that connects the communities in the Sahtu that would push south would be seen sometime in a future proposal? That’s what we want. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, it is part of our vision to see an all-weather road. It is not within our authority to be able to commit the required resources needed to build this road. The road between Wrigley and up the Mackenzie Valley to connect to the Dempster is roughly $400 million. That is something that we need to be able to convince the federal government to do. The roads or new roads, all-weather road, is still something that falls under the jurisdiction of the federal government. We will do everything in our power. I want to give that comfort to the Member that we will make every effort to bring that focus to the federal government. We are drafting a new proposal to bring forward and it does focus on connecting communities and it does focus on looking at the cost of living in the Territories, especially in the smaller, isolated communities. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, just in the last few weeks, the Sahtu has seen a high interest of winning bids by oil companies in the valley. We are talking about $50 million or $60 million of potential investments in the Sahtu region. An all-weather road would help the Sahtu in terms of a lot of issues. Number one, it would bring down the cost of living. Madam Speaker, would the Minister be able to meet with the Sahtu people in terms of a delegation going down to Ottawa if that is what it takes to put it on the federal government’s agenda, because that’s their expenditure, and the reasons why we need an all-weather road in the Sahtu? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, we already did bring a delegation to Ottawa for a day dedicated to the Northwest Territories. Part of the delegation was the Member for Sahtu. I am not sure if that’s something we have committed to or made any decisions on. I will assure the Member that if it becomes obvious that we need people from the Sahtu to come and fight those battles with us, we will do that. However, we have had these discussions with the federal Ministers. We have had visits in the communities that the Member represents. The issue has come forward as a priority in every case. We hear the message loud and clear. It is part of our long-term vision. It is something we would like to see for the long term. The federal government has programs that are coming forward. We would like to put in our submission and get some additional funding.

Over the last while, we have invested a lot of money. The Sahtu has probably received more money for their highway transportation infrastructure than any other jurisdiction in the Northwest Territories. We will be completing 29 bridges over the next while. We have extended the season. We have made significant improvements to the road. We will continue to do so. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Minister should be aware that there is more than me in the Sahtu. We would take the Sahtu people like Cece McCauley-Hodgson, who has been a consistent advocator for the Mackenzie all-weather road, truly a woman warrior from the region. Madam Speaker, once again, can the Minister look at taking a small delegation from the Sahtu region who can help the Minister and also help the Premier in terms of seeking some additional dollars from the federal counterparts to build an all-weather road in the Sahtu?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 85-15(4): All-Weather Road To Link Mackenzie Delta Communities

Madam Speaker, of course we will consider taking a delegation from the Sahtu. Any time we can bring some allies or some of our partners forward to make the argument for us and we can demonstrate that there is a need for this, we will certainly consider that. We will have further discussion with the Member. We will have further discussions with the leadership in his communities and look at how we can move forward and set up a plan of action. Thank you.