Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on the questions asked by my colleague Mr. Bromley, and I have some questions for the Minister of Transportation with regards to the piece of road between Niven Gate and 49th near downtown.
You know, the Minister explained how difficult this problem is, how complicated it is. I have a very simple solution for the Minister. The city and the GNWT have been talking about this stretch of road for many years. So, my first comment to the Minister is that there’s a simple solution to this very complex problem: fix the road, which is what needs to be done, bring it up to code, bring it up to standard, and turn it over to the city.
Is the Minister willing to do that before the end of the 17th Assembly? Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re going to meet with the city, myself and the MACA folks. I’ve been sitting here arranging something where we can get together and sit down and meet with the city. We want to come up with a solution. I don’t want to stand here and say that the solution is for us to fix it and give the road to the city. That is something that I think we’re going to work on together. Thank you.
I can tell the Minister that that is the solution that the city is quite willing to accept. The issue of trails, the issue of lights, the city is willing to take that on. The city simply needs to have the road brought up to the proper standard, transferred from GNWT to the city, and the city will then take over and put in the safety measures that are necessary.
There have been meetings between the city and GNWT for quite some time. What is the holdup with the GNWT agreeing to do the necessary roadwork? Thank you.
I wasn’t aware that that was a substandard access road. So, the reason that we weren’t fixing it is because I didn’t know it was a substandard access road.
Like I said, we are going to meet with them. The Member is correct; this road has been discussed for a long time, since that development has occurred, and we’re all concerned about the safety of the pedestrians who are using that road to access the city. We want to sit down with the city and MACA and come up with a solution that will be feasible and will work for the safety of the people accessing that road. Thank you.
To the Minister: I have to express my surprise and my huge concern that the Minister is not aware that this stretch of road needs upgrading. It’s not an access road; this is a GNWT highway, a territorial highway. Albeit, it’s in the city of Yellowknife, but at the moment it’s a territorial highway, and if the Minister doesn’t know that it needs upgrading, it’s no surprise that we haven’t had any success.
To the Minister: he’s going to have this meeting. At this meeting is the Minister willing to commit to provide funds to get the repair work done that’s needed on this road? Thank you.
If that’s a new project, then it will have to come to the House for approval. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So that’s not going to happen for about five years, then, if we go through the capital process. It’s well beyond that. This is not a new project. It’s something that’s been on the books for quite a long time.
So, if the GNWT is not willing to do the work, will GNWT accept the bill from the city when they do the work and hand over the bill? Thank you.
Like I indicated, we will meet with the City of Yellowknife. If a solution is for the City of Yellowknife to improve the road, if it needs improvement and it’s agreed on this side of the House and that side of the House that we can do a supplementary appropriation to pay for the road that’s been rebuilt to standard by the city, then that’s the direction we’ll go. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
