Masi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not available] [Translation] ...how important the cellphone service is important on this road, so that is my question towards the Minister of Finance. [Translation ends]. Five months ago, the chief of Behchoko wrote Cabinet with an urgent problem. The problem is cellphone coverage on the road to Yellowknife and Rae junction. The chief wanted help getting Northwestel to extend coverage to the busy section of the road, including 911 coverage. Minister Wawzonek promised this House in June that she would contact Northwestel regarding the lack of cell services on Highway No. 3 between Behchoko and Yellowknife. Would the Minister kindly describe the progress that her department has made with Northwestel to date? Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have done a number of things since the time of June. We have already responded back. This same enquiry was made by some of the chiefs from the Member's communities, as well as from the Yellowknife mayor. We have responded back to them to let them know the work that we have undertaken. We have some initial costing that would demonstrate the costs of either partial or full coverage between the Whati junction to Yellowknife, so we have that initial costing done. That was done in conjunction with Northwestel and the Department of Finance, and we have communicated that over to the Members of the Legislative Assembly. What stage we are at now, Mr. Speaker, is to actually flesh that costing out more so that it's more determined and more specific. Having done that, Mr. Speaker, we would be in a position to actually evaluate whether or not this is something that can be put forward for infrastructure either by the GNWT or if it's something that we may want to approach the federal government with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It has been a few months now, and we are still talking about this cell coverage between the junction and Yellowknife. I have spoken to the Minister, as well, about this particular area. We are investing in our people's lives, and lives matter. On Highway No. 3, we are contemplating identifying the dollars in this area. It needs to be an urgent matter. We need to take actions today. Any day, people could die for lack of cell service between Rae junction and Yellowknife, waiting for life-giving help to arrive. Why hasn't this department or the Minister given this matter priority over the urgent needs, the issue that is at hand on Highway No. 3 between the junction and Yellowknife? When are we going to get serious about the safety issue of Highway No. 3 travellers?
We went out and did exactly what we said we would do, which is to get in touch with Northwestel, who are, in fact, the largest provider of cell coverage and cell services in the Northwest Territories and would be in the best place to actually be the provider of cell coverage and cell services on this stretch of highway. Having done that, we have an initial costing, and now we are at the stage of doing an evaluation on final costing. The infrastructure acquisition plan that is in front of all of us this week, if the Member is suggesting that this would make its way into that, that was not ever going to be feasible between June and today, but the idea is to have the information and the data available to evaluate whether or not it should form part of a future infrastructure acquisition plan.
At times, we wait on whether it be the federal government or a company such as Northwestel. Sometimes, there is procrastination or dragging their heels. Sometimes, it takes time. If Northwestel can't justify the cost, then what is the territorial government, our government, doing to make it worth the company's while to initiate this action that is badly needed, the cell service between Rae junction and Yellowknife, for the safety of those Highway No. 3 commuters and travellers?
What the government can do and what the government is doing is assessing the feasibility of this project so that we can actually determine what the actual costs will be and then be able to make an informed choice about whether or not the government can find a way to fill a gap, if there is, in fact, a gap in the market. By doing that, we can also go out and see if there may be potential partners. This may be an opportunity where the Indigenous governments of that region may want to become involved, but it's difficult to go and have that conversation in a meaningful and honest way without really understanding what the costs are. Having done the initial feasibility, having gotten some initial estimates, we are now analyzing those costs so that we can have exactly the kinds of conversations that I think the MLA, quite rightly, is asking about.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. My final question is: this area has been addressed to my attention almost on a constant basis as so many travellers from my community of Behchoko, when the winter road is open, and from my three outlying communities. Again, I have to emphasize that it's a huge safety factor for my people. The people of Behchoko need to know when 911 emergency cell service will be available on this dangerous, overcrowded highway. They need to know, in an accident, if emergency is on their way immediately. When will this government take action on this very dangerous situation? I want to get more specific with this Minister. Since it's an urgent matter, during the life of this Assembly, is it possible to initiate -- the discussions are taking place, but the actions to make this happen? Mr. Speaker, masi.
I certainly want to acknowledge that I appreciate these questions in the House. It brings attention to the matter. It certainly demonstrates the urgency of the issue. There are always asks and always needs, and so many of them relate to the well-being of the people of the Northwest Territories. Just to give some context, it would be $90 million in estimate to cover only 65 percent of all of our roadways in the Northwest Territories. Now, that is not the section that I recognize that the MLA is asking about. That section would be, initially, for a full coverage, about $10 million, but then there are annual costs.
There are options being looked at. I know MACA is looking at options in order to provide 911 coverage. The Department of Finance wants to analyze these numbers, see what we can do, see how accurate they are, and then look for ways to potentially, as I've said, partner with perhaps the Indigenous governments, who would stand to hopefully benefit most from this, and partner and/or seek funding from the federal government. I can't give a specific timeline on a solution to this. What I can do is say that we're going to keep moving this forward as quickly as we can, so that we can ensure that the people of the Northwest Territories have safety and protection across all roadways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Hay River South.
