Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my Member’s statement of today and have questions for the Minister of Transportation pertaining to access roads.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s a difficult question to answer, as I sit as a member of that committee and so does the Member that’s asking the question. Certainly I think this is a very worthy discussion that needs to take place and I certainly would be pleased to be part of that discussion with the Rural and Remote committee. Thank you.
With respect to the specific project for Austin Lake road, will the Minister be prepared to develop a strategy in conjunction with the mini-hydro project to start the Access Road Program discussions? Thank you.
I’m not prepared to be the lead on the Austin road project at this point. The community has a role to play here and ITI has identified the project in the area. There have been some discussions that have taken place and we have been involved, but I am very hesitant to say that we will be the lead.
It’s a municipal piece of infrastructure that is required. We do have a program that can be tapped into for a small amount of money and we’ve also had some discussion with some of the people from Diavik that are very interested in working with the community to help coordinate and pay and give some advice in that area. So we’d be pleased to be part of any type of group that would be considering to make plans and invest, but as to being the lead, I don’t believe that’s our position. Thank you.
Then is the Minister prepared to develop and present a new expanded Access Road Program to the House? Thank you.
I’m glad that several Members have raised the issue and concern regarding the amount of funding in the Access Road Program during our presentation. Yesterday it was raised by a number of Members also. So I certainly will have a discussion with our officials in the Department of Transportation and also people in Finance for consideration for the next budget that comes forth. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister sort of answered the question that is he prepared to seriously examine substantial budget increases to the Access Road Program starting next year. Thank you.
I’d be glad to bring more money to the table in this program. However, consideration has to be made by all departments and the Department of Finance as we move forward with our priorities. But I will certainly take his advice and have our officials look at what could be improved on and how much money that would take, and bring that forward in the next budget that we bring forward. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
