Mr. Chairman, under transportation planning for Fort Smith, this is the area where the highway is getting reconstructed and paved. I just wanted to make a comment with regard to that. The work that this department is doing in my area is going along fairly well. We have major infrastructure, specifically on the bridge to Wrigley, as well as the access road built in Jean Marie River. This current summer, there was work done.
I made a statement in the House when the Minister wasn't here last week with regard to the great progress that has been made in building this access road in Jean Marie River. I don't know if the Minister was aware of it, but I did make a statement that the work was complete beyond what was anticipated this summer. There is money in the budget for this coming year and I appreciate that.
This past summer, the people who were working on it ran out of money and the season was still very good. With the type of work they were doing, if there was more money put in at that time, perhaps they could have done more. But there is only so much per year that is put in there. I think the Minister knows what I am talking about. The equipment wasn't up to par, though. If they had had the proper equipment, they could have done more. I was wondering if it was possible for next year, if this budget is approved and if they are working very well and run out of money before the end of the year, to help this community out by putting additional money in there? I see future years anticipated at $1.6 million in there. Is it at all possible to use some of that in advance?
The purpose is the work is going very well and then they run out of money. There is still a lot of good season left, but they have to shut down their operation. I am just saying if they are working very well and they run out of money, is it possible to have more funds put in place? That is the concern I have in this particular area, for the Jean Marie River access road. That is the comment I have. Could the Minister reply to that, Mr. Chairman?