Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried.

---Carried

Mr. Dent.

Thank you. Does that conclude the report of the Standing Committee on Finance? Mr. Dent.

Thank you. What is the wish of the committee? Detail? Agreed?

Agreed.

Directorate, total O and M $2.371 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

Thank you. Transportation and engineering.

Transportation and engineering, total O and M $2.484 million. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you. Mr. Chairman, there are a couple of small concerns that I want to raise in this particular area, it happens to be with regard to the matter of the Dempster highway. I wanted to indicate to the Minister, and through him to the staff, that I do have a concern about the actual quality of the road, and also the quality of the gravel material that we are using on that highway.

Another point that I wanted to raise, is that I did write to the former Minister about the use of equipment on the highway. That was particularly, how we were using equipment, like packers and I was told, Mr. Chairman, that we do not use packers because of the type of material we place on the highways. I noted with interest, in my own driving experiences in the southern parts of the Northwest Territories, that we do use packers. I was kind of curious why we are not, in fact, using packers when we are reconstructing the highway, and also in terms of the maintenance of those highways. The comparison that I asked about was the Yukon, and the suggestion was that there was a different type of material that was being used.

It is interesting to note that I had discussions with a lot of the contractors, who have been working on the highway, and they indicate that there is no reason why we should not be using packers at all to, in fact, pack down the road hard, so that the granular material that we are using does not end up on the side of the road, rather than staying on top of the road. I just wanted to raise that particular concern.

I do not necessarily think you can answer or deal with the issues at this particular time, but I do want the department, over the next few months, to address how we might be able to improve the quality of that highway. Particularly, since this year was, I believe, one we had a great deal of tourists travelling on the highway. In fact, we had more on the highway in the Mackenzie Delta area, than we actually had coming to Yellowknife. I would ask you to review that situation, and maybe develop a plan, or response, as to how we might improve that particular highway.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. Transportation and engineering, total O and M $2.484 million. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to make a comment, and I know that we are not dealing with capital, but it does deal with engineering and planning of highways, and the eventual construction. The concern that I have, and it has been raised, I am sure, many times over the years, is on the actual maintenance and construction of roads, the tendering processes and, in some cases, the negotiations of contracts.

I wish to express my concern to the Minister, and his senior staff, that as much as possible we should try to ensure that the contracts are let locally, involve as much local business, and get them to hire as many local employees as possible to do these contracts.

This goes for both all-weather roads, and ice roads.

Thank you. Any comments? Mr. Minister.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, just one follow up to that. In a lot of cases, a lot of our community operators, contractors may be too small to do any one specific job. I think just about every community has a contractor with equipment, and maybe a combination of groups, joint ventures, between the different businesses within the regions, can be just as effective, and probably more effective than bringing in someone from the outside.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. Any other general comments? Transportation engineering, total O and M $2.484 million. Agreed?

Agreed.