Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to take you back to the period when Gordon Wray was Minister for Transportation. Realizing the need to have an upgraded highway system, the department started to improve the southern road system. Work began in the southern section of Alberta/Northwest Territories border, north in the 1980's. Then during session in 1990, Mr. Wray introduced the Transportation Strategy for the Northwest Territories. The subsequent Ministers, Mr. Todd and Mr. Antoine used this document for the basic framework to implement our current strategy for transportation needs in the territories.

In this document it showed the need to upgrade our highway system comparable to southern Canada. In 1990, construction started in both Fort Providence and Edzo to rebuild Highway 3 with the idea that within five years both ends would meet.

This year I was hoping to announce in the House that after seven years of construction, costing millions of dollars, Highway 3 is now paved between the Rae Access Road junction and junction to Highway 1. Meaning, once a person leaves Yellowknife and reached the Rae Access Road junction, he will be driving on pavement to one's destination in the south.

Unfortunately, I cannot say this as there is still approximately nine kilometres to be completed. I have been told that this work should have been completed this year, but due to the high rain fall and other unexpected weather conditions, there will not be the solid black ribbon line going through to the south until next spring.

Later during the question period, I will be asking the honourable Minister a question regarding this situation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.