Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the department's transport officers who patrol this section of the highway with the radar, report that not many large trucks actually exceed the posted speed limit by more than a few kilometres per hour and the intention here is to increase the enforcement presence during the winter haul seasons. We would like to assure the Members that speeding will be given a very low tolerance. His suggestion to lower speed limits for trucks on the Fort Rae - Yellowknife section of the Highway No. 3, there are jurisdictions that deal with speed limits and are generally applied on multi-lane highways with designated passing lanes, which we do not have in this section of the road. The department feels strongly that to introduce dual speed limits will create even greater safety hazards than we have, because the slower mover vehicles will have a big train of vehicles back behind it. Given the conditions of the highway, maintaining the steady traffic flow, and strictly enforcing the speed limit seem to be the best approaches at this time, but if the Members feel strongly and the citizens that use this highway feel strongly that for yet added safety we lower the speed limit, then we will do it. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the enforcements arm of the Department of Transportation has a reputation among the truckers as being extremely strict, compared to southern jurisdictions. We hear that all the time. In fact, I have heard complaints since being Minister of Transportation that we are in fact too strict and too vigilant at times, by the trucking industry, and so we have both sides of the story. There are weight limits when the trucks enter the Northwest Territories there is a weigh scale over by Enterprise that takes the weights and makes sure that the loads for safety and dangerous goods are adhered to. We have highway patrol, if they see any trucks that seem to be in question, they are stopped immediately, and are questioned and checked.

In regards to the heavy loads that are going on our highway system, as I indicated the other day to the honourable Member from Hay River's question, I am told that for the chip seal and the paving that we have in the winter time is the best time for heavy loads because the roads are frozen and can bear heavy tonnage, more so than in the summer months. Therefore in regards to deterioration of the road, the concern is not as great in the winter time as it is in the summer time. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Miltenberger.

The Deputy Premier, Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, we have made that point also, that the Member spoke of, that we are concerned that the model as it was laid out in Footprints 1 and 2 was not costed out. It is a nice elaborate model, but there is no way for us to compare it to anything else because there are no cost estimates. That is a concern we pointed out to the NIC. It is a fairly elaborate exercise to cost out a government model like that. At this point in time, before that model has been thoroughly examined and responded to by the three parties, the GNWT, the federal government, and NTI, I think it is premature to start costing out a model which will likely be modified. So, we will wait until there is further work on it before we cost it out. In fact we think it is a responsibility of the NIC to do that.

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

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I made the comment that the model will likely be restructured or changed a bit because of the fact that the NIC is an advisory body appointed by the three parties to furrow out, to look at options and then to propose models for the three parties to consider. The final model will come after the three parties have talked over it, have done some consultations on it, and agree or come to a consensus on one that meets, as much as possible, the expectations of the people in Nunavut and that is affordable. Affordability is a major concern and probably will have to be the number one factor, because, although we would like to have a government that is as close to the one that we had hoped for as possible, if we cannot afford it, then we will not be able to do it.

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

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, that is a very important and good question. It is one that we need to discuss and to answer in the near future. But on financing matters I will choose to have the Finance Minister, who is also the Chair of the Division Planning Committee answer when he is able to.

Thank you. Oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Arlooktoo.

Mr. Speaker, I would have to find that information and get back to the Member. However, the latest information I have, which is about a week old, said that the appointment was imminent, which may be in the next few weeks.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Steen.