Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With respect to Mr. Gargan's concern with the community plan in Fort Providence and the need to perhaps consider moving the maintenance component, I am told it could be a very expensive exercise. Perhaps with some readjustment and some shrinking of the program it is possible. I would be prepared to take a look at it within the certain financial constraints that we all operate in.
The concern with respect to whether there is a tripartite agreement in place between Alberta, NWT and the federal government with respect to the Fort Chipewyan all-weather road, which is a concern of Mrs. Marie-Jewell's from Thebacha, yes, there are discussions under way. We are far from an agreement but there is a committee which is looking into this and trying to come forward with some compromise as to how we can accomplish this end.
On the winter roads, the honourable Member knows I am a strong proponent of negotiated contracts particularly as they relate to aboriginal people. As you know, I have made no apologizes for that. I want to assure him that the department has been given instructions that where there are significant economic benefits, and where it is cost-effective, we will continue in that vein. With that in mind, I want to assure the honourable Member, that most of the winter roads we are doing, 60 per cent, are being done by private contractors, particularly in the Mackenzie and Delta area. We recently negotiated a contract with Nishi-Khon/PCL for the Lac La Martre-Rae Lakes road. I am hopeful and confident that these kinds of initiatives and that kind of financial expenditure will result in making life a little better for those who are active in it. I am confident that this can happen.
On the maintenance of highways, the honourable Members knows there is a significant amount of aboriginal and northern people who are permanent employees of the department. That has to be taken into consideration when we look at privatizing the maintenance of the highways. This is being looked at. We are working on this problem. Perhaps not as much as some would like, but we have to give due consideration to northern people who are sitting in permanent positions in that particular function. I want to assure the honourable Member that where it can be done, and everybody knows my record on privatization, I am a strong proponent of that, but where it can be done and does not jeopardize northern employment, whether it is the transfer of people to the private sector, or whatever, we are certainly prepared to take a look at it.
On the Member's concerns with respect to emergency response, I think it is woefully inadequate. There is no question of that. It is a concern which has been raised by others. The department is part of a coordinated effort under MACA to look into this. I think we, as an Assembly, need to take a hard look at the resources which we are putting into it and hopefully this can be accomplished over the next six to eight months.
I agree with the Member with respect to signage. I think we need to get signs out that tell a story. We have to tell our story regarding what the north is all about. I did a bit of a tour of Newfoundland recently and travelled their highways. On their highways, there are signs that tell you everything. They tell you what you are coming to, what you are going to see, where the visitors centres are, where the coffee shops are, et cetera. I would agree with the honourable Member that we have to get a little more creative. It does not cost a heck of a lot more money to let people know where they are and what is there, et cetera. I will take a look at this and ask the department to take a look at this. Perhaps, as has been suggested, we should become a little more creative in telling the message and the story which we have to tell.
Regarding the weigh scale operation, it is my understanding that we do currently run two shifts. We are working towards
trying to improve it. We recognize we do not capture everyone who we want to capture.
Hopefully, we can make things more effective than they are. Again, we are working under certain financial limitations. I know that the honourable Member has a long-standing dispute with the highway patrol. I will look into this matter more carefully to see if we can improve the need to be more vigilant with respect to the weigh scale operation. Thank you.