Debates of May 10, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today in my Member’s statement I indicated that I think the Beaufort-Delta is being left out again with projects. I’m speaking in terms of the mention of a Deh Cho Bridge and everything over the last couple of days. I understand, Mr. Speaker, that the new highways are the responsibility of the federal government, but at the same time with the recent announcement by the federal government about $25 million over seven years. My question is for the Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche. I understand that right now they’re still trying to find out how that money can be spent. So I’d like to ask the Minister, has his department determined what the stipulations are with regard to that funding, or can that funding be used to construct a 22-kilometre access road to Tuktoyaktuk from source 177? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Minister for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Return To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I can assure the Member that myself and this government, that we are doing nothing; that we are not saying no to the Inuvik-Tuk road. Some of the new initiatives that have been announced in the federal budget, the details are still being worked out and we’d like to see what they are so we can roll out the program. We’ve committed to the House and to committee that we’d like to work with you in identifying the priorities of where to allocate that money there, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, we have maintained, and will always maintain, that responsibility for new roads rests with the federal government. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, has the government decided which priorities are in place right now with regard to spending that money and is the access road to source 177 to Tuk one of the highest priorities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d just like to say that the Premier and I are very supportive of the initiative that you continue to raise in this House. It is a good initiative of the honourable Member and something that we always support are ground base initiatives. That project specifically will be addressed in the fullness of time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister, has he had discussion with his Cabinet already to make sure that some of that $25 million that’s identified right now from the federal government will be allocated towards source 177 from Tuk? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That particular project, source 177, is amongst the many priorities that are laying before us as Cabinet to decide on. Once again, we’ll work with committee in establishing the priorities as laid out by the guidelines of how we’re going to spend the money for the federal programming that has been announced. Mahsi.

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

Supplementary To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister providing information but again, I think, this is a gravel source that’s really required by the community and I think it’s really important that if government wants to help people build pads and build roads, access roads and stuff like that, I think for the community of Tuktoyaktuk, this is one issue that’s really important to their hearts and that it’s really important that they find the funds for the allocation from Tuk to Inuvik, the 22 kilometres. Thank you, Mr, Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Further Return To Question 54-15(6): Funding For The Tuktoyaktuk Access Road To Gravel Source 177

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Our government and this department continue discussions with Inuvik-Tuk road committee and we are considering it seriously. In fact, we had provided the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk with $25,000 in the past and the federal government has committed some funding towards the engineering and survey work required for the road to source 177. So we’ve continued to move forward on this agenda item that is very important to the Member. Mahsi.