Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member's statement, I'd like to direct my questions to the Minister of Infrastructure.
With the warmer weather upon us and the conditions of the Dempster Highway worsening there, I applaud the Minister on her infrastructure improvements project but there was no mention of Highway No. 8 in the upgrades or regular maintenance. What is the department doing at the present time to ensure the safety of the users of the Dempster Highway between Rengleng River and Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Mackenzie Delta. Minister of Infrastructure.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do maintain a watch on all our highways, and members of the public can access that through the Drive NWT website. It is now being kept up to date almost immediately or instantly. So certainly do want to point people to that as a resource.
With respect to Highway No. 8, I have -- my latest update for the highway in its entirety is that it was in a fair state. We do have a grader out doing some ice blading from Tsiigehtchic to Rengleng River. And, again, Mr. Speaker, certainly do appreciate getting updates from folks who are driving. Again, we -- in addition to the Drive NWT website, it is always helpful to hear from folks directly. But, again, right now, latest is that it's in fair conditions and, again, a grader out on part of it. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the tanker in question that went off the highway at the section around Rengleng River, there's signage on both sides of the river asking vehicles to slow down, and the signage is about 50 metres from the area where it's pretty bad, and the bigger trucks require more time to slow down but these signs are too close to the area. Will the Minister advise the regional department to make changes where these signs are further away from that section to give the bigger trucks more time to slow down? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that's the first specific comment I've received on signage placement. I'm very happy to take that away. I'm familiar with this particular incident of this tanker. I've heard some other reasons as to what the potential cause of that might have been, but I'm also fairly aware that there's likely to be some investigation of the matter. So just want to temper that it may not have been the speed, it may not have been conditions. But absolutely, with signage, I will certainly take that away, and let's work with those who are on that stretch of highway and the region to determine the best possible placements for signage. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Final supplementary. Member from Mackenzie Delta.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the regional department working with the Minister's department on daily inspections of the highway from the NWT border to Tuktoyaktuk to give updates on where work might be required for safety reasons? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we do conduct daily inspections on the highway network. You know, exactly where staff might be on any one given day, I don't want to be overcommitting. I would acknowledge that we don't necessarily have enough staff to be on every stretch of highway all the way from the border throughout the Beaufort Delta region, but there are staff out on those highways on a regular basis. So I believe I have suggested before we can try to keep Members better up to date in terms of where we're trying to be, and I'll try to see if I can get a specific schedule to the extent that we have one and at least share it with Members, if not publicly. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister of Infrastructure. Oral questions. Member from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
