Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the matter of the winter road to Fort Chipewyan, as the Member correctly points out, it is a matter within two jurisdictions that are not ours. First, it is through Wood Buffalo National Park, second, it is in the Province of Alberta. Historically, we have cooperated with Wood Buffalo National Park to put that winter road through to Fort Chipewyan, and Parks Canada had picked up the cost of it. We provided the service because we had equipment there doing other work. This year Parks Canada has said they would not continue. Since they have made that point, I have attempted to meet with Parks Canada and the Province of Alberta individually. At this point in time the door is not yet closed to the possibility that Parks Canada will change its mind on this road. I am expecting to hear the final decision from Environment Canada shortly. I regret not being able to have a reply to that today, but I was expecting something having met with the Minister last week. The options we have open to us are not broad. We have only a couple of things we can do. The first one is to attempt, again, to persuade Parks Canada to reconsider for this year so we can get a better assessment of what the use of this road entails: who uses it; how often they use it; for what reasons; and, when they use it. There are two other options, and one is to say no it is not our jurisdiction. I would leave that until last, Mr. Speaker, because we would like to see if there are other ways in which we can achieve this objective by talking to the Town of Fort Smith a bit more and continuing dialogue with the province and parks.
Tony Whitford on Question 16-12(3): Options For Winter Road To Fort Smith
In the Legislative Assembly on November 19th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 16-12(3): Options For Winter Road To Fort Smith
Question 16-12(3): Options For Winter Road To Fort Smith
Item 6: Oral Questions
November 18th, 1992
Page 27
See context to find out what was said next.