Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I spoke of the need to connect Tuktoyaktuk to the Canadian national highway system.

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Can the Minister of Transportation inform this Assembly and the people of the Northwest Territories what progress is being made on the construction of the all-weather road from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have discussed this issue of the Tuktoyaktuk road on a number of occasions in this House and I have indicated in those discussions that we have a document called Investing in Roads for People and the Economy, which was put together in the year 2000. It highlights a number of issues around the transportation systems, including the roads that need to be improved, the roads that have to be reconstructed, and we have made submissions to the federal government to do a number of reconstruction projects along those lines. We are now drafting a new proposal that we will be releasing in the near future that will be submitted to the federal government to continue that work.

We are also embarking on a national strategy, that the Premier is leading with his provincial counterparts, that has a national transportation system or strategy that will look at building a number of new roads, and that includes the extension of the road from Wrigley to Tuktoyaktuk. It is a very costly initiative. The numbers that we have to date are around $700 million. Those documents are still in draft form, and they will be released to the public I believe some time in November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to hear that the draft is coming out sometime in November. I’m just wondering, can the Minister, Mr. Speaker, indicate to this House on whether they can actually put forward the road from Tuktoyaktuk to source 177? That would be the start of the highway from Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s difficult to point to exactly all the initiatives because this document is still in draft form. But I would like to assure the Member that the road to Tuktoyaktuk is included in all our discussions and both our proposals. The proposals fit together. It’s all part of a bigger vision statement. There are other initiatives in new areas that we have yet to develop proposals that we’re working on. The Tlicho roads, for example, that we still have to work with the chiefs and we still have to work on realignment. That proposal has to be done. We are also talking with the Mackenzie gas project proponents and we’re looking at the legacy projects. Of course we’re taking consideration of the road to Tuktoyaktuk and the actual stretch that the Member is talking about to a gravel source, the 22 kilometre gravel source. So it is included in all our discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one last follow-up. A few years ago there was one kilometre built between the source itself towards Tuktoyaktuk. Another 21 kilometres will actually hit Tuktoyaktuk. So like I say, can the Minister at least with the Cabinet consider finding the funds from the federal government to complete the 22 kilometres to the gravel source that can be fully extended towards the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik highway? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 98-15(4): Adding Tuktoyaktuk To National Highway System

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve indicated already that we are committed to doing that and we have it included in a number of our different proposals and will continue to bring those forward. Thank you.