Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicles Division, through its highway transport officers, is responsible for enforcing the regulatory environment for our trucking industry, including driver and vehicle licensing, mechanical safety standards, vehicle weights and dimensions, security of loads, hours of service, dangerous goods as well as the rules of the road in general. A permanent weigh scale and vehicle inspection station on Highway # 1 at Enterprise has been the division's focal point for most regulatory enforcement. However, truck traffic has been increasing steadily in areas far away from Enterprise, such as, logging operations near Fort Liard and Fort Simpson, mine re-supply on the Ingraham Trail and winter road operations north of Wrigley to the Sahtu communities.

While increased trucking activity is a welcome sign of positive economic growth for an area, the number of heavy trucks also raises the public's concerns for highway safety. The department has received requests from many quarters to extend its enforcement activities.

Especially when public money is tight, building new permanent weigh scale sites take a large commitment, of both capital and operating dollars, in fixed locations that may be no better situated to deal with future changes in truck traffic. As an alternative to fixed sites, the Department of Transportation is putting a new mobile inspection station in service this week. This self-contained vehicle, similar to ones in service in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, will be deployed in areas where truck traffic is heaviest. It is designed to operate year round and, if necessary, under severe weather conditions.

It is equipped with portable weigh scales that can weigh any size of vehicles. As well as the standard equipment used in a stationary inspection station, such as a fax, photocopier, computer and printer, it also has radio and satellite communications. With satellite technology, the highway transport officers can check licenses, verify safety certificates and issue permits just as they do in the permanent station at Enterprise.

The unit is built for two officers to operate around the clock at any location for days at a time. The mobile inspection station will be an effective tool for detecting and deterring violations of transport regulations and for carrying out ongoing safety programs. By going where the trucks are, instead of waiting for them to stop by, the department can do a much better job of protecting the public's $1 billion investment in our highway infrastructure. The motto on the vehicle, On the Move - Safely, speaks for the department's commitment to safety for both the trucking industry and the general public on our highways.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is pleased to invite the Members of the Assembly to take a look at its new mobile inspection station that is parked outside today in the Assembly's parking area. An open house and demonstration for the general public will be held tomorrow in the parking lot at the Yellowknife arena. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause