Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to present the Members of the Legislative Assembly with the 1992-93 capital estimates for the Department of Transportation. In October 1990 the NWT transportation strategy was tabled in the Legislative Assembly. The strategy deals with transportation as a key component in meeting the economic, social and political needs and aspirations of the people of the NWT. This strategy recommends major capital expenditures for improving and expanding our transportation facilities. Its detailed proposals offer a guide for the investments of both the federal and territorial governments in northern transportation.
Within the mandate of the territorial government, the proposed capital estimates for next year follow directly from the objectives set out in the NWT transportation strategy. For those parts of the strategy that still belong to the federal mandate, I will continue, as your Minister of Transportation, to press the federal government on delivering its responsibilities in the North.
The capital estimates propose expenditures of almost $11 million on community airports. We must replace or rehabilitate worn out maintenance equipment. The department will finish the runway rehabilitation projects at Gjoa Haven and Spence Bay and begin runway work in Sanikiluaq and Repulse Bay. There is work to be done on the air terminal buildings at Arviat, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet and Coppermine. A garage will be built in Holman, and the runway extension will be completed in Chesterfield Inlet. Work will continue on the new airport at Snare Lakes.
The department will complete the new airport in Rae Lakes and continue with the new airports in Paulatuk, Snowdrift and Lac ]a Martre. Through a contributions agreement with Transport Canada, the NWT recovers from the federal government 50 cents of every dollar the department spends on these projects.
We will be spending over $22 million on the highway system, including the ferries. Funds must be set aside for the replacement and rehabilitation of maintenance equipment and facilities. The new ferry at Fort Simpson will be launched this summer. Work will continue on a major upgrading program of the arterial highways between Enterprise and Fort Providence and north to Rae-Edzo. Work is also planned on the Dempster Highway, the Fort Smith Highway near Hay River and the highway near Yellowknife.
Just over $300,000 will be spent on new roads in the new year. Between Fort Simpson and Wrigley, work will start on the Willowlake River bridge. Once the bridge is ready, the ferry in service at Fort Simpson, the M.V. Johnny Berens, will move to Camsell Bend. This will open the Mackenzie Highway as far as Wrigley for year-round, all-weather use. The Mackenzie Highway extension is scheduled for opening in the summer of 1994.
The responsibility for any more new road projects remains with the Government of Canada. The department will continue to pursue negotiations with the federal government to win its long-term commitment to new northern roads.
Five hundred thousand dollars is scheduled for the construction of the community access roads. Plans for the new year includes completion of the Swan Lakes road in Gjoa Haven. The department will also continue bringing the winter road at Jean Marie River up to fair weather status.
Community marine facilities may support sealift, commercial fisheries or local small aircraft activities. The community wharves program aims at giving shelter to small boats in the communities. Facilities for sealift and commercial fisheries are federal responsibilities. The proposed estimates include almost one million dollars for community wharves. This year, the department will finish the breakwaters in Arctic Bay and Sanikiluaq and continue with the breakwater projects in Broughton Island, Gjoa Haven and Igloolik.
The Department of Transportation is working with the federal government departments that have marine responsibilities in the Arctic. We are pushing the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to proceed with a major harbour development at Pangnirtung. The department is working with Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard to establish the possibility of bringing the sealift to Pelly Bay. It will continue to show both Fisheries and Oceans and the Coast Guard where communities are in need of improved sealift landings, harbours and wharves.
In brief, Mr. Chairman, these are the highlights of the Department of Transportation's proposed 1992-93 capital program. In delivering its programs, the Department of Transportation uses its expenditures as opportunities to stimulate and to promote northern and local training, employment and business ventures.
In the first 11 months of the past fiscal year, the department awarded 490 contracts with a value of $46 million. The northern content value of these contracts was $39.5 million, representing 86 per cent of the total project expenditures. Almost half the northern content component, $18.8 million, went to local contractors and subcontractors. Next year the department will strive to do even better in advancing local training, employment and business opportunities. We will also carry on next year with our efforts to remind the federal government of its responsibilities for northern transportation.
Mr. Chairman, as the Minister of Transportation, I think this is a worthwhile and important capital program for the future of the Northwest Territories. I hope the Members will agree and give their support for our proposal. Thank you.