Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, as I outlined in my Member's statement, the importance of having those cabins on Highway No. 3, with the new road being in place just a few years now, that those cabin owners have been left out in the cold, unable to access their traditional road to their cabins. So I'd like to ask the Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, can the Minister direct his department to repair this access road that I specifically embarked on -- Mr. Charlo’s camp -- and dump some gravel in the open ditch that has been created through the lack of maintenance and is deteriorating every day, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just with respect to the issue the Member brings forward, the access roads that run off our highway systems, including the one he's talking about on Highway No. 3, are considered now private access roads and the department does not specifically maintain access roads off the highway system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, before the new highway was built, it was a public highway and we accessed those cabins by the old highway. Now we're saying no to these traditional trappers and hunters. We, as GNWT, have always stressed to retain and maintain our way of life. By importance of highlighting that in this House, on numerous occasions I have raised that issue. With that, Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Minister last fall, I do believe it was, that he was referring to opening up to other camp owners. At the same time, we're not talking about just plain old squatters. We're talking about those people.

Do you have a question, Mr. Lafferty?

Yes, Mr. Speaker. Question to the department and the Minister: What responsibilities does the department have in maintaining the residential access roads? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to this particular road access that the Member is bringing up, and many of them that are actually part of the Highway No. 3 system, the access roads were constructed. We dug up a lot of the existing highway system. But the ones where people were living, Mr. Speaker, they were reconstructed and maintained at that point for them to use. But any deterioration after that, it's still considered a private road and the individual is going to have to look at getting the access road up to accessibility for his access. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. So what the department is saying, the Minister is saying, is no, we're not going to support our elders to continue their way of life. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about people who lived along the highway before the department changed its route, even before this department existed. Mr. Speaker, can we come to a consensus on which cabins and homes might be considered for nominal access roads in respect to their traditional usage, like a grandfather clause? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The intent is not, of course, to restrict any access to elders or anybody else that's living off the highway system. But our policy is that we do not maintain any privately owned access roads off the highway system, and our primary responsibility is taking care of our highway system, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, policy is policy; it can be amended any time. The Minister has the responsibility to make changes to respect the traditional way of life. So I'd like to ask my final question to the Minister. Would the Minister be willing to meet with the leadership in Behchoko to find a solution for this ongoing issue that has been on the books for a number of years? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 90-15(6): Maintenance Of Highway No. 3 Access Roads

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Some of the issue, too, is that we have private contractors that do maintain our roads and we do have some informal policies that can consider requests such as this, but in the past we've had objection by contractors, in particular in the Member's riding, saying the government is taking away private contracting work by opening access roads and plowing roads. So that's one of the issues. But just in general, Mr. Speaker, the access roads belong to the owner and the department is not responsible for maintaining and clearing of those roads. Mahsi.