Debates of March 1, 2006 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today, I spoke of the need for the community of Tuktoyaktuk to secure access for the gravel located at source 177. Without a steady year-round source of gravel, Tuktoyaktuk will have a problem meeting their infrastructure needs. We understand that the Department of Transportation has plans for a road to gravel source 177, so that physical access to part of the problem is being addressed. Mr. Speaker, what needs to be addressed is the right of the community to use the granular source that belongs to the ILA, Inuvialuit Land Administration. Can the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs tell this Assembly what his department can do to assist the hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk in securing the necessary funds to access gravel source 177? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 492-15(4): Transportation Infrastructure Needs Of Communities

Mr. Speaker, the gravel revolving stockpile fund was wound down in 1999. Investment for gravel requirements have been built into the municipal community government budgets. In the case of Tuktoyaktuk, there are no specific projects that we can point to at this point. I don’t have any listed that require gravel. We don’t have any plans to bring any stockpile into that community either from the Department of Transportation or from MACA. Having said that, there is a need across the Territories for assistance to look at the issue of gravel. We are working with other departments to put together a gravel study. We hope to have that completed. We are working with the Public Works department. The Housing Corporation and Municipal and Community Affairs and DOT are working together to try to come to deal with some of the issues that are coming forward from some of the communities. That study will be ready this spring. In terms of actual projects for gravel required in Tuktoyaktuk, there is none identified in our capital plan. We have a gravel fund of $250,000 that we provide to communities if there are additional requirements needed over and above what is built into the community government plan, and there was no request from that community for this fund. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 492-15(4): Transportation Infrastructure Needs Of Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am still disappointed that there is no money identified for Tuktoyaktuk for gravel all this winter. As you well know, Mr. Speaker, Tuktoyaktuk is well known for the erosion problems that they are having. In terms of stockpiling, I think that is important that the department identify that Tuktoyaktuk should be of necessary needs to address right away. I would like to ask the Minister again, under the $250,000, how much of that…I know he said there is no money identified with Tuktoyaktuk, but can some of that money go towards Tuktoyaktuk? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 492-15(4): Transportation Infrastructure Needs Of Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no. The money in the $250,000 is application based. That money has already been committed. We have six communities that have applied for this money. They have been approved. That money has already been committed for this year. Tuktoyaktuk did not put in an application for this community revolving fund of $250,000. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 492-15(4): Transportation Infrastructure Needs Of Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I will voice my disappointment, but again, this winter is the only time that Tuktoyaktuk can access gravel haul from source 177. If the Minister is able to find money like he did for other projects like in previous years for the Executive, or able to find money from elsewhere, if there is any money that can be found to access the gravel haul, will he consider Tuktoyaktuk as one of the priorities for gravel haul? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Minister McLeod.

Further Return To Question 492-15(4): Transportation Infrastructure Needs Of Communities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in order for us to, as a government, consider a gravel stockpile and to bring in equipment or to contract that out, we need to have specific projects. I recognize the Member’s need to work towards building a road system to the source of gravel. It is a problem for the community of Tuktoyaktuk. We recognize that. There has been a large request for a large contribution from the community that we have considered. We are not able to accommodate it. We have continued to realize that there is a need for a reliable source. However, in order to have a stockpile program, we have to have the projects that either Public Works brings forward or the Housing Corporation brings forward, or MACA, for that matter. They bring these things forward. We will take that into consideration and look at doing a winter haul. At this point, there are no projects in the community that we have identified for this fiscal year. We are not looking at doing a gravel haul. We continue to work with the federal government in our requests for additional money to build a road to the source 177. We have to, once again, meet with the federal government to discuss our plans to bring forward a list of our needs in that area. We hope to do that this spring. Hopefully, we will have some firmer answers for the Member in the near future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.