Debates of February 6, 2006 (day 23)

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My question today is to the Minister of Transportation. The community of Nahanni Butte have long-term plans of completing their access road and are looking for assistance from the Department of Transportation in that they’re wondering if they can work with them to advance the funds or even co-sign a loan to advance the funds on constructing the road. I think it’s $1.2 million, where the government has plans to spend $200,000 a year. The community is looking at getting a guarantee from the government to build the road in one or two years. Is the Minister and is the transportation ministry willing to look at an alternative like that to complete this road? Mahsi.

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

Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we’d be interested in sitting down with the community of Nahanni Butte to talk about the proposal for the public access road to the community. It’s something we’re in discussions with in the case of other communities, so we’d, of course, be glad to sit down and discuss this with them also. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just with that, I was wondering how much work was going to be done by the department on that access road this year, because this discussion has to take place soon so that they can start looking at the bulk of the construction next year. I know that the Minister previously indicated to Nahanni Butte that they were not interested in co-signing such an agreement. The Minister said that he’s willing to do that. So I would just like to get some type of commitment that it can be a reality to assist Nahanni Butte in getting this road completed soon. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have committed to providing I think it’s $250,000 a year for a period of four years to the Nahanni Butte access road. It’s something that we are very interested in doing and in a lot of cases it’s to create partnerships with the communities or the development corporations in the communities. We have had discussion in several other communities about the possibility of doing so. We, of course, would have to involve the Department of Finance in this whole discussion to ensure that the FAA is followed, but we’d be glad to do so. We’d be glad to sit down and look at what the community’s proposing and responding accordingly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That is exactly what the community is looking for, at least some type of commitment other than…I think the key here is to bring the answer over to Nahanni Butte, instead of going there and saying we’ll take that for further consideration. That’s what I’m asking the House here today. Have a serious look at it, Mr. Minister. Come up with a plan to see if you are willing to co-sign a loan on behalf of Nahanni Butte. Like the last co-venture, they did contribute towards the cost of the road and they have indicated to me that they are willing to do that again, but that’s an expression of interest and they’ll go a long ways in having your ministry co-sign this loan. So once again, can the Minister provide at least some type of indication or answer to the community? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 343-15(4): Nahanni Butte Access Road

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before we can say yes or no, or I respond to the community’s request, we’d have to see a lot more detail. We are quite interested to sit down and talk to communities. Other communities have come forward and demonstrated that there is a cost savings of having some of the money fast-tracked into a one-year period where we would save on the mobilizations cost and also the demobilization. So we’d be very interested to sit down with them. Whatever we can arrange through a meeting with the community along with the Member, I’d be glad to sit down and have that discussion. Thank you.