Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the NWT hours of services regulations enacted pursuant to the Motor Vehicles Act requires a trucker to take a 24 hour break after completing 70 hours of duty time during a seven-day period;

AND WHEREAS, during the summer months many truckers are working on seasonal projects and are driving for limited periods of time on a small portion of the highways;

AND WHEREAS, the regulations are unduly restricted for small construction businesses in the Northwest Territories, in so far as they seek to limit hours of work for all truckers on highways, not just those truckers driving long distance;

AND WHEREAS, the province of Alberta permits truckers to drive for up to 13 hours a day;

AND WHEREAS, the large vehicle control regulations enacted pursuant to the Motor Vehicles Act place certain restrictions on the gross weight of vehicles;

AND WHEREAS, vehicles carrying gravel on short distances for construction purposes, outside a construction zone, must obtain an overweight permit;

AND WHEREAS, the need to obtain an overweight permit to transport gravel a short distance increases the administrative paperwork and costs to small businesses in the Northwest Territories;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kitikmeot, that the Minister of Transportation immediately consult with truckers and workers in the construction industry, with a view to amending the hours of service regulations and the large vehicle control regulations so as to expand the hours that may be worked by truckers employed in construction industry.

AND FURTHER, consultation should also be held with a view to remove the requirement of an overweight permit for those truckers operating in the geographic area of a construction site.