Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Premier. It gets back to transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories and whether we have a list or don’t have a list; I mean, that’s debatable. But what I’d like to know and the reason I’m asking the Premier this question, Mr. Speaker, is I want to know, because during the life of the last government Regular Members were never plugged into a priority planning exercise when it came to transportation infrastructure and we’ve all got interests out there in our ridings. I want to know how the Premier and his government are going to be any different in addressing the transportation needs in all our various ridings, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of our infrastructure plan, much like our O and M, operations and maintenance budget that we put before the Assembly, the process through our business planning stage and main estimates process will be the avenue that we will have all Members have their input on and which projects should be of higher priority than others. We’re going to be faced across the board in every department with trying to come up with a plan that will fit and balance the needs of the Territories and departments and we’re going to have to work with Members of the Assembly.

Now, there’s another piece out there that was referred to earlier and I believe it’s the Building Canada Fund. That work is ongoing with the federal government. A framework agreement has yet to be signed. They’ve established criteria for what can qualify for that, as well as matching dollars that we would have to come up with. That discussion has yet to happen and as we go through that process, I would be ready to sit down with Members and have a discussion in that area as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier for listening to my concerns today on this. It’s a big issue for me because during the life of the last government I stood up here numerous times, almost every session, extolling the virtues and the public safety aspects of the city of Yellowknife bypass road into Kam Lake Industrial Park. It just never saw the light of day, even though the Government of the Northwest Territories had a ready, willing, and able partner in the City of Yellowknife to construct that road. Meanwhile, they’re spending all their time and effort on constructing a Deh Cho Bridge with a partner who we have yet to see where their equity is coming from five years later. So I’d like to ask the Premier, how do we address issues like that and how do we get the Department of Transportation to pay attention to transportation infrastructure needs in our riding? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m aware that the Department of Transportation has been working with the city. They’re aware of the requests made, have worked with them in a number of areas regarding this. The problem comes down to do we find the money, where do we find it from? I’m aware, as well, we’re going to be putting the pieces together and sitting down with Members once we’ve come up with the criteria on what projects would be able to move forward. The big problem we’re going to come up with on this specific Building Canada Fund is how do we find our matching dollars in an environment where we’re having difficulty meeting the existing requests that are out there on infrastructure.

As well, from the Cabinet side we’ve put together infrastructure Ministers as a sub-committee of Cabinet and they’ll be sitting down to discuss the whole infrastructure plan and the criteria that we’ll be looking forward to working with the Members on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The time for question period has expired. I will allow the Member a short supplementary. Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess you have to, and I talk to a lot of people, and I hear a lot of things. I want to, I just want to say that I’ve heard that the money for…

Question, Mr. Ramsay.

Yes. I’ve heard the money for the city of Yellowknife bypass road was available to the last government and they said no to it at the 11th hour. Is that something this government knows about and can they actually partner with the City of Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of what discussions took place, whether it’s between department and the City of Yellowknife. I’m aware at this stage there’s a number of projects that are being reviewed. We have yet to sign a framework agreement with Canada. Part of that framework agreement comes with their criteria of what’s going to be in there, and we’re prepared to sit down and look at opportunities and options with any party out there when it comes to a number of projects. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ramsay, you may have a short supplementary. Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we are negotiating with Canada, the importance of having the city of Yellowknife bypass road on our list of projects is very important. Again, I’d like to ask the Premier, will the city of Yellowknife bypass road be on the list that is negotiated with the federal government and the Building Canada Fund? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 59-16(1): NWT Transportation Infrastructure

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we haven’t had a decision come forward on any of the projects as of yet. Cabinet is reviewing the criteria that has been established, what projects could be put on that list, where we would find the 25 percent. If there are partners out there that have that 25 percent, they’d be part of the mix as to a decision and we’d be prepared to meet with committee as we do that work. Thank you.