Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, offer the same invitation to the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation to consider travelling on Highway No. 3 to visit these cabins. I would like to ask the Minister, Mr. Speaker, as a follow-up from my previous question in a different format. As Mr. Menicoche outlined, there was a disagreement on the private contractor. Is the Minister willing to sit down and talk about the potential contractor again, because that contractor he was referring to was before August, 2005, with a new Tlicho agreement? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 102-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In other regions, this is not too much of an issue because people do understand the application of their access roads and they do make arrangements with Transportation, but namely our contractors to have their access roads ploughed. So that is something that has happened in this region. I know that contractors in this region have been complaining to us for using highways equipment. Highways does maintain this stretch of road. Often, the contractors complain that we are taking away work from them. That is why we are not using our equipment to provide for the services of helping people with their access roads. With respect to the first part of his question, I would be happy to commit, as well, to driving with the Member down Highway No. 3. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 102-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad the Minister is taking up the offer. I am looking forward to that. Mr. Speaker, my next leading question is, when we identify a contractor in a community prior to 2005, there might have been a case at that time, but today, if you approach a community and say would you like us to clear your roads, they would be more than happy to take on the opportunity. Is the Minister willing to invest from his department to identify a contractor, whether it be DOT or in the community, to clear the access roads to the traditional cabins? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 102-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be glad to sit down with the Member and the leadership to discuss ways in which we could best address this issue. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.