Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a follow-up to my Member's statement. I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation. I'd like to ask the Minister: how frequently are contracts for ice road construction and maintenance awarded? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you. Minister of Transportation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to probably look into that. I imagine every section may have different appendices to it, but if he wants to ask on a specific contract I can look into that for the Member. Thank you.
How does the department plan to award the contract for the Inuvik-Tuktoyaktuk Highway, maintenance contract?
We're waiting to have the completion of that road. We are having a hard look at how we are going to tender this process out for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. It is no different than any other contract, and it will have to follow our procurement steps as laid out by the Government of the Northwest Territories.
I would like to ask the Minister: will the Minister award the contract for the maintenance of the ice road between Aklavik and Inuvik to an Aklavik contractor, since the road primarily serves the residents of Aklavik?
As the Member knows, the section of road between Aklavik and Inuvik right now is between two different contractors, but the one section that is closer to Inuvik is the part that goes to the Tuktoyaktuk section, which will be closed off after this winter season with the opening of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. The present contractor for the majority of the road is from Aklavik. He presently has the contract, and I believe he has three more years, roughly, remaining on his contract. What I will do is have a look at that once the Inuvik section is done and see what we are going to do.
Thank you, Minister. Final question, Member for Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about 30 kilometres of road, here, that is to the junction of the Aklavik turnoff. I don't see why we can't just add this to the remaining contract, which is majority to the Aklavik contractor. Will the Minister ensure that this is straightened out before the fall? As you know, it is on that section of road to Tuktoyaktuk that will be no longer needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said, there are two contractors on that section. The last 30 kilometres in the Inuvik section is a different contractor. Once the contract is done, at the remainder of this winter road, we will have a look at economies of scale. It probably makes more sense to have one contractor for that whole section of road versus two, but I will have to have a look at it when the time comes.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
