Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ever since the gun control legislation was announced by the federal government, northerners have been concerned about it would be and the impact it would have on all of us. In the middle of August this year, the federal Minister, Alan Rock, unveiled the new licensing fee structure. The document was hard to read and hard to understand, clarification was supposed to come by the end of August. It has been nine weeks since the structure was announced. Has the Minister of Justice received clarification from the federal Department of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Justice. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge, Mr. Speaker, No, not at this time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mr. Rabesca.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the highway section from kilometre 243 to kilometre 335 Highway No. 3, that the Honourable Member is concerned about, between Rae and Yellowknife.

I just want to say that last Friday when I drove on that highway and coming back again on Sunday, I noticed that the transportation workers were working very hard trying to get the road in good shape before it freezes, so that they will have a good road surface throughout the winter. The people that work on this road, I stopped and talked to them, and they were saying that they are trying to maintain the road as best as they can, under the circumstances, so I would, first of all like to commend the workers, that work on that stretch of highway for doing a good job. As for answering the Honourable Member's question, Mr. Speaker, I just want to say that pre designed planning is now being finalized for the reconstruction for this section of road between Rae and Yellowknife. I know that this section is one of the most heavily travelled in the Northwest Territories. It is programmed for reconstruction to bring it up to the same standard as we have on the rest of the route from Yellowknife to the Alberta border. The existing conditions have been documented and identified. Alternate arrangements for construction are being undertaken at this present time. So there is a lot of work being done in pre-planning, Mr. Speaker. A lot of work still has to get into it in the pre-planning stage, because this particular part of the country is bedrock and granite, which the road passes over. The cost per kilometre is estimated to be two and half to about three times as expensive as the reconstruction of the highway south of Edzo. I am told that the cost is about $300,000 per kilometre to reconstruct the road between Edzo and Providence. You could use your mathematics to determine that it is going to cost quite a bit per kilometre to rebuild the road between here and Rae.

As we all know, the financial situation that we are in is driving this whole government. To bring it up and try to meet the budget deficit as we are all trying to do here, we are all committed to do, it is going to be impossible to move it up sooner than what the honourable Member is asking. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Has the Minister considered possible investors to assist with this project as there are a number of parties out there that will benefit from the improved road service, such as different mining companies, and other organizations that may have interests in improving the road system? There must be upgrades on this road as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department is exploring the potential of developing this road by developing partnerships between the government and the private sector and aboriginal partnerships. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question is for the Premier. Just prior to that, looking at the Hansard from yesterday, and I did not realize that the Premier had indicated he did not know that we would be in session at the end of November. I just wanted to inform the Premier that indeed, we will be in session during the end of November. So he does not have to worry about bringing everybody back to discuss the amalgamation of Transportation, Housing and Public Works and Services.

Mr. Speaker, the City of Yellowknife was founded on gold mining, and this mining activity is still very evident around us today. There has been some speculation that at least one mine is reaching the end of its ore reserves over the next decade. There are significant reclamation issues that will require resolution at that time. Can the Premier confirm what measures are being taken to ensure that adequate resources have been set aside so that adequate reclamation measures will be taken at the time that mining activity is concluded.

Mr. Premier.

I will take that question as notice, and have the Minister responsible respond to the Member through this House. Thank you.

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Roland.

The Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the hospital projects continue to be a high priority of the Department of Health and Social Services over the balance of this term. They are the most significant capital project that this government will ever undertake. I would like to reassure the honourable Members that I will do everything in my powers to ensure that we can try to address the needs of both Inuvik and Iqaluit in providing proper health care facilities for their communities, and the service areas they service, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary. Mr. Roland.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot definitely say whether or not they will or will not be built during the term of this government. As we all know, there are only two and a half years left in the mandate of this government. Having said that, though, I know, that work continues to be made on both of the projects and, we are hoping that we can resolve all these issues as soon as possible, to reassure people where we are heading for these two facilities, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.