Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Gargan on February 18, 1992, with respect to distribution of highway transport officers. On February 18, 1992, the Member for Deh Cho asked why the Department of Transportation's highway transport officers restricted their patrol operations to the public highways in his constituency.
The transportation safety section of the Department of Transportation has its headquarters in Hay River. From Hay River the transportation safety section monitors commercial truck traffic for compliance with transport legislation throughout the Northwest Territories.
At present there are six highway transport officers stationed in Hay River, two in Inuvik and one in Yellowknife. The primary duties of the officers stationed in Hay River and Inuvik are to operate the Enterprise and Inuvik weigh scales. At the weigh scales the officers control the axle loadings of commercial transports, conduct safety inspections and issue licences and permits. The officers are on patrol duties for one eight-hour shift a week.
Highways No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 are the main land transportation corridors in the Northwest Territories. Highways No. 1 and No. 3 carry 73 per cent of all highway traffic in the Northwest Territories. It is along these routes where 75 per cent of all highway accidents occur. The Enterprise weigh scale, at the junction of Highways No. 1 and No. 2, is the best location for inspecting truck traffic and for sending out patrols along the highway system. The transportation safety section is responsible for commercial transport safety over the entire highway system. Its operations are not restricted to the Member's constituency. Thank you.