Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like thank the Minister of Transportation and his department for allowing a short extension to the winter road openings. On behalf of the people in the small communities who depend on winter roads to get in and out and to buy supplies and so forth, I would like to say that the few extra days are certainly going to help. The community of Nahanni Butte, Mr. Speaker, is presently doing an experimental logging project on the Liard Highway, and the men from the communities use the community of Nahanni Butte as a transport base of every morning and evening. The logging project is until the end of March so the extension of the opening of the road to the end of March is certainly going to help them.
As for Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte, I know Jean Marie is trying to bring a store into their community and, with the extended time period, they might be able to get the work done and bring in their supplies before the roads close. The few days of extension are certainly going to help all the communities.
To close, the community of Fort Simpson is having their Beavertail Jamboree March 17th, 18th and 19th and the open road will allow people from surrounding communities to come into Fort Simpson to celebrate. With that, I would like to thank the Minister and his department. Mahsi.
---Applause