I have a motion to make in regard to our report. I move that this committee recommends that the department give priority to the acceleration of Highway 3. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
In the Legislative Assembly on April 27th, 1999. See this topic in context.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is a north outside the boundaries of Yellowknife. There is a north where people do not have highway systems. They do not have transportation systems. Some communities are serviced once a year by barge. Also, there are other projects in the Northwest Territories, like the road up the valley, a road to link Tuktoyaktuk to Inuvik and major construction work to be done on the Dempster Highway, as well as other roads where the maintenance level has fallen. Just so the public knows, not all Members are on this Resource Management and Infrastructure Committee. Just so the Minister fully understands, the report and this committee motion here, I am not going to support this motion. It is too open-ended. It gives a priority to the acceleration of Highway 3 and forget about the rest of the Territories. I do not think so, Mr. Chairman, so I will be voting against the motion.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I will be supporting this motion and I believe that the National Highways Strategy is a program that the GNWT can take advantage of to provide the acceleration of this particular project. I believe it is an excellent opportunity for the government of the Northwest Territories to get additional resources from that federal program, as it is a program designed to link the capitals together. Another avenue that I would certainly be supporting the particular initiative on is, there is a commitment that the project be carried out and, Mr. Chairman, in the days of fiscal restraint, any additional resources or any way this government can be prudent with the way it spends money should be looked at. Another method that this government can engage in is to do a cost analysis of what it would take to accelerate the project and provide financing for that on an ongoing basis. I think there have been studies which have proved already that there is a potential savings to accelerating the program and financing it as opposed to doing a piece each year. I will be supporting the motion in the interest of being fiscally responsible. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 383
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I moved the motion and naturally will be voting in favour of it. There are efforts underway to deal with the National Highways Strategy on a federal basis. I believe the Minister has attended meetings to seek possible further funding and if funding is made available on a national basis, this particular highway is one that will qualify. Other highways may not, I understand only certain highways will. If there is a possibility of accessing funds, then there is a potential for us to accelerate development of and to finish this particular highway, which has traditionally been a problem.
There is no question that there are other needs in the territory. I fully respect that. In the long run, I think if we can accelerate this highway, it will be more economical. We have had some briefings on it to indicate that if this is stretched out over an eight year period it would be substantial money, whereas cost savings can be obtained if it is done over, for example, a three year period. The cost will be much less in the long run. Then, of course, the funds become available and no longer will this substantial amount of money that is needed for this be devoted to this highway system. Those are my comments. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be voting in favour of this motion as well, Mr. Chairman, as many times I have driven that highway and after you have just driven for 20 hours or whatever, you do not feel like coming through a road that is like a snake and very dangerous, particularly when it is wet, when it is raining. When you are tired, it is a very scary situation. I can just imagine how tourists feel when they have
just been driving for a long time with their expensive motorhomes. Mr. Chairman, this is not a good way to greet those tourists who are here to spend hard-earned dollars in our area. I do not believe that waiting for eight to ten years or, as some people have mentioned, even longer, to finish the road is the way to go.
I think that we can accelerate it, but at the same time I would like to ensure that the benefits in building this road actually goes to the people of the north. We cannot accelerate it to such a degree that we have to use all types of southern construction companies to build this road. We have to ensure that northern companies get these contracts and that they have training programs in place so that local people can be trained to drive trucks and whatnot, so that we can have a bettertrained workforce who can move back and forth from working on highways for municipalities, in open pit mines or wherever. Mr. Chairman, as I said, I will be voting in favour of this motion, but I want to ensure that this is not accelerated to such a degree that the benefits do not accrue properly to the people and the businesses of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. At this time I would like to ask the Minister if he wishes to bring in witnesses?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
The Chair David Krutko
I will ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he would escort the witnesses in. Mr. Minister, would you please introduce your witnesses for the record.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, to my right is the Deputy Minister, Mr. Peter Vician, and to my left is director of transport planning, Mr. Masood Hassan.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will keep my comments as brief as possible and I will also include a few questions in it. Mr. Steen, you are well aware of the Northwest Territories, you are a person who has travelled through the Northwest Territories, the Western Territory. You have probably been in just about every community from Fort Smith to Tuktoyaktuk to Sachs Harbour, all the way up the valley. You understand that there is a community up there on the coast called Tuktoyaktuk and Tuktoyaktuk has been trying for years to get a link between itself and Inuvik. Will you as a Minister responsible in your department work with the people of the Beaufort Delta to ensure that they get equal treatment from this government as well as access to some dollars to start looking at the feasibility and try to establish that link between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Member has referenced, I am well aware of the highway needs between Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk and I am aware that the department has been working with both communities, both Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, through their highway planning committee and it is through the Highways Strategy which involves studies of four separate regions that we are trying to address the highway between Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik. At the present time there is a study going on financed by the department in particular to the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik connection and I believe the study is at the stage where they are calling for requests for proposals for identifying what process would be required in order to obtain the land and right-of-way for the highway. What groups would have to be contacted, who owns the land, and at this point in time I am only aware of Inuvialuit and crown land being involved, but there is a need to identify exactly what the process is to obtain these lands and right-of-ways, so there is a study being undertaken and I think that the department plans to have this study done by August of this year. After that it would be part of the overall Highway Strategy of the department as to what exactly would be the outcome of all these studies of the four regions and then we would identify priorities, which area we would want to start with and, hopefully, we could have some kind of financing in place by then as to possibly advancing on all four areas at once if that is the identified proposal and the choice of the Assembly and the department and Cabinet, I presume. So that is where the whole thing sits right now and in the end it would be part of the territorial Highways Strategy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In your budget, Mr. Minister, and also through the committee report, committee Members would like to see the amount decreased on Highway 4. This is the road that goes out, the majority of it is used by the diamond haulers and all that to move equipment in and get to the winter road access. In your budget, Mr. Minister, you have $550,000. That is money to be spent, or has that money been spent?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 385
Vician
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The funding for Highway 4 project which is located approximately six kilometres outside of Yellowknife deals with improvement of the road on the Ingraham Trail. That serves the Ingraham Trail proper but, as well, that specific location serves the community of Detah and a program was set up specifically to deal with spot improvements or safety locations that were at risk. The funding was identified in the past fiscal year at $500,000. The current funding proposed is $550,000 for the current year. The work proceeded last year to begin work and at that stage a multi-year contract was entered into to begin the work. That work carried on during the winter and completion being subject to this year's appropriation. Some of that work has already proceeded and that is where the project sits at this point. All of the funds that are identified with last year's fiscal funding and the proposed
funding for this year will go to the location currently under construction. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Some of this money is spent already? The $550,000?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Mr. Morin, could you restate your question because I believe your microphone was off for a short bit.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Was any of this $550,000 spent as of today?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have been advised that some of the $550,000 has been spent as of now in relation to the fact that it is a multi-year project. However, I will let Mr. Vician expand on that matter.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Vician
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, some of the funding has been spent in accordance with the authority under the Interim Appropriation Bill. The contract was identified for expenditure early in the year and that did proceed. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So then Members cannot really consider this project. It is committed, the money is being spent already, the contract has been let, so this committee motion from the Government Operations Committee should have saved the paper it is written on, I guess, on this one because it is already committed, the contract is let, part of the money is spent, even if the Members chose to reduce this, it could not be possible. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the fact is, $700 some odd thousand of the $1.05 million is, in fact spent, yes. The completion of the project would have been to the cost of $1.05 million, so the overall plan of the project over two years would have been that this year the project be completed, however, the Member is right, some of the money is spent already, yes.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Roy Erasmus Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to comment on this money being spent on Highway 4, the allocation of $550,000. As has been noted, this road is also the road that the community of Detah uses for nine months of the year and if you take the population of Detah and the population of the people that live on the Ingraham Trail, that population is more than several communities in the Western Arctic and very close to some others. I am well aware of the work that is being done on that highway, which incidentally is in Yellowknife North, and that particular stretch of road is a very dangerous area and I think that it is high time that it was fixed and I cannot agree with the committee when they indicate that they would like to see this amount decreased and put into the main highway system. I would like to see this work continued and finished as planned. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Erasmus. That was more of a comment than a question. General comments. Details. We are on page 10-9, Department of Transportation, activity summary, corporate services, operations and maintenance, $7.053 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Page 10-11, Department of Transportation, activity summary, airports, operations and maintenance, $12.608 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Airports, details of capital, land and buildings, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $250,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Heavy equipment vehicles, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $587,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 386
The Chair David Krutko
Other equipment, headquarters
region. Total headquarters region, $50,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
The Chair David Krutko
Infrastructure, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $644,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
The Chair David Krutko
Airports, page 10-16, Fort Smith region. Total Fort Smith region, $127,000. Agreed? Mr. Morin.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under airports in the Fort Smith region, Fort Resolution has an airport. At the present time, the maintenance, I believe, has been turned over to the community of that airport and the community will take it over. The traffic has reduced quite a bit in that airport. Can I get a commitment from the Minister to come into Fort Resolution to inspect the airport, as well as the Fort Resolution highway and the Lutselk'e airport?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for that offer and I will commit to, as my schedule allows, going to Fort Resolution to do an inspection.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
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Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Also, not unlike Yellowknife airport, Yellowknife airport sits on a large land base, so do the airports in our communities. Also, there is much available land near the airport and on transportation land, now the government's land. I know there is some talk in the community of trying to get the use of some of that land. Can the Minister please get from his department the minimum need of land in Fort Resolution, the minimum amount of land you need for that airport?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, before I go into the community I will be in touch with my officials on that particular issue. As well, I will probably have my officials with me when I go into the community.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the committee continue sitting until we have completed this department and extend sitting hours until we have completed this particular department.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
The Chair David Krutko
The motion is in order to continue sitting until we conclude this department. It is not debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried. We are dealing with airports, Fort Smith region. Total Fort Smith region, $127,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
April 27th, 1999
Page 387
The Chair David Krutko
Page 10-21. Highways, detailed capital, heavy equipment vehicles, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $634,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
The Chair David Krutko
Infrastructure, headquarters region. Total headquarters region, $100,000. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 387
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under this region and under Highway 4,0-67, 69, reconstruction, $550, 1999-2000 for a total project cost of $15.150 million. There is a committee recommendation to see if this amount can be decreased and put into the main highway system? Will the Minister consider this recommendation and to see if this amount can be decreased? I know there has been money spent already. I know some of this money has been spent, but possibly there may be a way to decrease it without lowering the safety standard of the highway.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
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Page 387
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt that the department will consider the motion put forward by the committee. We will have to take into consideration the fact, like Mr. Erasmus mentioned, that is a very dangerous section of the highway in regards to that particular curve the department is trying to do away with by cutting through that rock. We will take into consideration the fact that some of the money is spent and we will see whether or not, in fact, we could address the situation and redirect some of the money that is left of the project, if any. However, at this point in
time the anticipated future costs of $14.1 million is just that. It is an anticipated cost. There are no plans at this time to go beyond the $1.05 million. The future $14.10 million is going to take a lot of planning before we can actually find this money to actually apply it to the highway. We will be addressing the final figure of $15.1 million in that way. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Minister. We are dealing with highways, Fort Smith region. Mr. Morin.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess the best to describe it is to tell the Minister a bit of a story about this highway superintendent out of the Hay River region. One of them was born and raised in the Northwest Territories and last spring, I think it was, I was in Fort Resolution and people were complaining about the highway coming into Fort Resolution because it has a tendency to wash out and has a tendency to have low spots, lots of water problems, so I told the gentleman that people are complaining about the highway. They do not think the highway is in very good shape. He says to me, well young man, I will tell you, I think that highway is in pretty good shape considering it was built on the bottom of the lake. That is basically where it was built for the last ten miles. You do have a program in place for drainage for the last ten miles into Fort Resolution. They are doing that over the years, trying to fix it, and this road was built on top of, in those days when they built the road they laid the trees down and put the dirt on top of it, so all these huge trees come through in the spring and they are fixing that as best as they can but, to ensure that program is reduced to ensure that work will continue this year on that stretch of highway, will that happen?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If in fact there is any revenue left after we have addressed that particular curve, I cannot say whether that particular revenue would be applied to any particular region. Regardless of whether there is any revenue left from this project, the department will look into how serious the situation is and the highway to Fort Resolution and try to address it through regular operations and maintenance funding. If, in fact, it requires some capital, then we are going to have to address that next year.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The residents of Fort Smith and Fort Resolution over the years enjoyed having a paved highway and it is paved from Hay River to Pine Point and then it is paved to the Big Buffalo River Junction. It is a very nice highway, well maintained by Nuni Development Corporation out of Fort Resolution and the government people, as well, out of Fort Smith and Hay River. Over the years there has been a certain amount of maintenance done to that highway, but this government has an investment in that highway. It is a good highway. It is well taken care of, but it is an investment and if you allow your investment to deteriorate to a certain condition you may end up with a gravel highway instead of a paved highway. Are there proper maintenance dollars in this budget and future budgets to ensure that the standard of the highway continues to be the same, continues to be a good highway into Fort Resolution and Fort Smith?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this particular concern by the Member ties in to some degree with the fact that if the department receives funding, or I should say, if the GNWT receives funding through the National Highways Program, that would in turn free up some funding that we are using right now on Highway 3. The funding we received through the National Highways Program can only be applied to certain areas, in particular, from the border to Yellowknife. That is identified as part of the National Highway Program, so we can only apply that funding to go to particular highways, but it would in fact serve to free up capital funding that we could use to apply to other portions of the highway to improve those sections and that was part of the strategy. That is part of the things we would have to take into consideration if, in fact, we can accelerate Highway 3. Just because we receive federal funding does not mean we are going to be able to accelerate Highway 3. We will have to take into consideration if it frees up enough of our money to be applied somewhere else. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess the concern I would have is the possibility of accelerating Highway 3, and even with the dollars that we have today and where they are being spent, that we have to be cautious that we do not deteriorate our other highways to the extent where you are going to have major capital programs just to bring them back up to an acceptable standard. That is the concern that I would have, that we do not allow the maintenance of our existing highways to suffer by fast-tracking something else or by putting all the money into one area and then allowing our highways in the South Slave, for example, as well as even the highways into Nahendeh and the Deh Cho area. We have got to be very cautious that we do not slash our maintenance budget to the extent that you are doing damage to the highways instead of good.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, I agree with the Member on the fact that we cannot place a higher priority on one highway versus the other as far as operations and maintenance and maintaining those highways to standards. The policy of this department right now is to address operations and maintenance on all highways that we have at this point in time and hold them up to safety standards. Although we are concentrating right now on Highway 3, that does not necessarily mean that we are going to ignore other highways in order to fast track Highway 3. All highways will have to be maintained to safety standards. If there is deterioration of the highways, well then we are going to have to address those as well. Perhaps I will let Mr. Vician, my deputy, expand on that a little bit.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 388
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The priority, as the Minister said, is to protect the investment in the infrastructure that currently the department has. That is the priority for the operations and maintenance dollars that we have out there. The application of those operations and maintenance dollars is
distributed around the entire system, including the Dempster Highway, the South Slave highways, North Slave highways and the Deh Cho highways.
Specifically, investments such as paved surfaces are of great concern because once you make the investment in a paved surface it is important to maintain that. The cost of replacing it is very high and therefore dollars are allocated each year through the operations and maintenance budget to preserve the existing surfaces. Some of the sections in the area in the South Slave have been there for a great many years and have been preserved in that fashion because each year we make a reinvestment in some surfacing. That will continue again this year. There are plans to do additional surface repair, what we call reseals, in sections of the highway on the Fort Smith highway between the Highway 2 junction near Hay River and Buffalo Junction, as well. Those programs will continue this summer and will continue in future years as the first priority of the department to protect both surfaces, gravel and paved. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Also, we have to be very cautious and the Minister has the ability as well as the qualifications to look at those things, that is your background and we have to be very cautious about not only our highways, but our ditches and drainage are so important and what grows beside those highways and what we allow to grow, so that we do not have a deterioration of the approaches or the ditches so that it holds water and leaves so our highways deteriorate. Also, we have in Fort Resolution the Nuni Development Corporation, a locally owned development corporation, that does highway maintenance. They have been doing the highway maintenance for a number of years now and they negotiated those contracts with your department and they have done the job well, so that will just continue as normal. There will be no change in that as well, right, Mr. Minister?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, the opportunity to negotiate contracts by qualified firms in the small communities is always there. When it comes to the department, we are considering requests to negotiate and will take into consideration their past performance, as well as the fact of how long they have been in the business. We should keep in mind that part of the negotiated contract policy and the end result of that program is to have these small firms qualify to enter the public tender process. In other words, at some point in time we have to accept the fact that they are capable of competing in a public tender process and therefore some consideration will be given to whether or not we are still continuing with negotiated contract policy. The policy will be subject to review at some point in time by Cabinet and by the Legislative Assembly as to whether we still continue with the policy. Until there is a decision to do away with it, we will go by the policy that is established by the government.
I would just like to add, Madam Chairperson, that in the acceleration of Highway 3, there should not be an expectation that this highway is going to be done in less than five years because the funding from the National Highways Program is spread over a five-year period. I do not see this acceleration being anything less than five years. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. One of the top priorities of the government is community empowerment, and through community empowerment will this Minister commit to or look at negotiating block funding arrangements through community empowerment for Fort Resolution community groups? They have a community group there, the Deninoo Community Council, the band council, the Metis Local and through community empowerment take over the highway maintenance from Hay River to Fort Resolution because it is a function. It is a service provided by the government. It is a program provided by the government and we would prefer to do it through community empowerment and then we do not have to deal with negotiated contracts, no different than a municipality would do their own contract work, same thing.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, the department and, I am sure, Cabinet will consider any proposals put to us. I cannot commit whether we will accept the proposal or turn over a portion of the highway to a community for maintenance at this point in time, but the department is always open to proposals.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. One last question, Mr. Minister. Maybe I could get a commitment from yourself as a Minister on behalf of your department to work with the community of Fort Resolution to develop a proposal so they can work through community empowerment to block fund the community to maintain the highway between Hay River, Fort Resolution and 40 miles out towards Fort Smith to Sass Creek.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 389
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. At this point in time I am not sure whether I want to make a commitment because I am not clear what I am going to be getting into here, so it is obviously going to set a precedence and I have to be very careful as to what I am saying here or what I am going to get into because I am sure that there will be other regions or other communities asking for basically the same thing. I have to be careful and not make a commitment at this point in time. I will be open to proposals. I do not commit to working with the community to put forward a proposal, however, I am open to proposals and the department is there and available to assist communities with whatever information they may need to put forward a proposal. I cannot see assisting the communities to make a proposal to the department. That might not be proper. With that, Madam Chairperson, I commit the department to assist the community with whatever information they may need, but I cannot commit to coming forward with a proposal that I
would in turn have to consider. No, I cannot do that, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Steen. We are on details of capital, Fort Smith region. Mr. Morin.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Trust me, Mr. Minister, that this is just a commitment from yourself and your department. One of the priorities of the government is to work with the community to develop initiatives, develop community empowerment. What I am asking for is a commitment from yourself to commit your department to work with the community to develop a proposal. There is no other place we can go to get that done. It is only your department that has the information and can assist them to do it because they have to work in conjunction, because ultimately it will be your department that would have the final say on whether or not it got the opportunity to go to Cabinet for consideration. All we are asking for is a commitment to do what government does daily, assist communities to develop a proposal for block funding for that section that I mentioned.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chairperson, I already said I would commit the department to work with the community. I already said it.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. That is all the questions I have for now.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Just following up on Mr. Morin's comments on transportation. The majority of highways in the Fort Smith region, as you all know, are either paved or chip-sealed. I think that also we have to keep in mind that there are other highways out there and I think that at the present time there have been law suits filed mentioning this government in the past, in which there have been successful cases where this government has been sued because of the condition of the Dempster Highway. In the last year, there have been a number of people killed on the Dempster Highway and I think a lot had to do with the condition of that road. Yet, Madam Chairperson, in the case of the Yukon, they are seriously considering chip-sealing the Dempster Highway on those portions which are gravelled, especially coming from Dawson City and working north.
I would like to ask the Minister of the department, since the majority of the highways in the Fort Smith region are paved or have chip-seal, has your department considered looking at the possibility of expanding the chip-seal program on those other highway systems to improve the surface of those highways or considered expanding the calcium program so we can maintain the surfaces of those highways and make them safer?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Vince Steen Nunakput
Madam Chairperson, I am not trying to avoid the Member's question, but this particular question applies to Highway 8, which is on the next page. Perhaps we might want to move on to that.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
I would like to make a point of clarification here. I am following up on the questions asked by Mr. Morin in consideration that we do have other highways out there. I think we cannot concentrate all of our efforts and energy to Highway 3 or even Highway 4, for that matter. My point is that we have to take into account that there are other highways out there that have conditions which may be more urgent than these highways that are presently being considered. I think that we have to take into account that the majority of the highways in the Fort Smith region are paved or have chip-seal. Yet, you have to realize that we also have to maintain a lot more highways outside the Fort Smith region, which are in worse condition than this highway system that is presently being discussed. I do not believe that my question is out of line. It is following up on the questions asked by Mr. Morin.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. I do not think that the Minister was insinuating that your question was out of line, but just that from his days of chairing committee of the whole that he may have thought they were better posed on the next page. Do you have a response for that, Mr. Steen?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I was just trying to envision where the Member would be referring to chip-seal or more calcium being applied and I presumed he was talking about the Dempster Highway, which is in his riding, although it could apply to any area. I do know that the department is considering applying calcium to those areas that we can afford the calcium. I will ask Mr. Vician if he can elaborate on that for the benefit of the Member.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 390
Vician
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The Highway Program, the Capital Program specifically has been developed over a number of years post-devolution of the responsibility from the federal government under two specific transfers, one in 1984 and a further one in 1990. With that, a reconstruction strategy has evolved and was established originally in 1990 and has evolved over the years to deal with the highest priority sections of the highway system on a where it is needed most basis. Of course, every day the operations and maintenance dollars preserve the existing system, but the Capital Program has been targeted to deal with the highest priorities. That includes the establishment or the construction of wider roads, better surfaces and includes the application of calcium within the dollars available. The current program in capital overall deals with roads throughout the system, from highways in the Fort Smith region, the Deh Cho and the Inuvik region, as well. The distribution of the dollars is a highest priority distribution for the purpose of safety and the preservation of the existing system. We are continuing to move on that and, of course, the priority to deal with all of that over the long term is one of, hopefully, seeing all of the system dust-controlled at least and, hopefully, seeing
it all surfaced over some period of time. With the current level of funding, of course, that is a long time away. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I would like to know exactly what has happened to the calcium budgets that were in place in the past for the Fort Smith region. They used to have a large calcium budget to maintain or dust-control that highway system. For instance, between here and Fort Rae the majority of that road is calciumed every year. In the case of the other highway systems, very small amounts are being spent on putting calcium and maintaining the surfaces of our other highways. So because the majority of the highways in Fort Smith region are either paved or chip-sealed, where did the money go that was there in the past to calcium a large portion of that highway?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I think the deputy would be the more appropriate person to answer that question.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Vician
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Funding for calcium is incorporated within the operations and maintenance budget for the program for highways over the years. For many years, that funding was approximately $1 million throughout the system. During the difficult period of dealing with the budget restraint a few years ago, that budget was affected and all parts of the system were impacted by that budget restraint in 1996-97 and post years. The funding that is available now does deal with attempting to preserve the calcium that was in place and wherever possible increasing that. As sections of the highway, for example on Highway 3, are improved we try to take those savings for the kilometres as they are absorbed into the surfacing portion and leave it in the calcium budget overall.
However, on an incremental basis of that nature, the dollars are minimal and, for example, this past year the dollars saved from last year's surfacing were invested strictly into cost increases associated with the contracts for calcium, which of course are subject to inflationary pressure and costs that go up on a regular basis. The objective, of course, is to take any savings from reconstruction and put it back into calcium and, of course, maintain what calcium we have on the system currently. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Can the Minister give me a listing of exactly where these expenditures have been spent to upgrade the calcium program and which highways it has been spent on?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I do not know if the deputy has that information at hand or not...he indicates he does not have the information in his hands, so we are going to have to get the information to the Member at a later time.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
Thank you, Mr. Steen. Department of Transportation, Fort Smith region. Total Fort Smith region, $13.655 million. Agreed?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
The Chair Jane Groenewegen
I have to call the item first. It is Inuvik region. Total Inuvik region, $3.2 million. Mr. Krutko.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, with regard to the Inuvik region highway construction, I made reference to lawsuits and court cases that have happened in the past where this government has been sued and, Madam Chairperson, in the last year there have been several accidents where people have been killed on this highway. I would like to know from the department exactly if there have been any lawsuits filed in the last year that they are aware of and exactly what is this government doing to improve the conditions on the Dempster Highway so no more people get killed on that highway system?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 391
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Vician
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The specific question with regard to lawsuits, we checked with the risk management section of the government to determine any lawsuits that had been filed on the Dempster Highway as a result of accidents. Those filings would, of course, go through that route and the information we have available is that we have no current lawsuits on that section of road. The specific issue of the improvement of the road to protect the public is a priority and the Dempster Highway Reconstruction Program, which has been ongoing for many years, essentially since the transfer date in 1990 from the federal government, has directly targeted the improvement for safety of that roadway. The 271 kilometres, though, is a long piece of road, very difficult terrain to work in, very high cost and the program has been very successful to date and we hope it will continue to be so successful, but will take a number of years to complete. At the same time, priority areas are set and each year before we propose the Capital Program we assess the next priority and bring forward a plan for reconstruction for the highest priority area. We will continue to do so through the highway reconstruction plan. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Just to expand on what Mr. Vician said, the figures in the budget identify that the department did spend in prior years, $4.5 million for highway improvements on the Dempster Highway and future costs anticipated are $10 million. We are trying to address the problems on the Dempster Highway. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. I drive this highway quite regularly and I know for a fact that when people say that the highway systems in the South Slave region or Highway 3 or even the highway to Fort Liard is rough, they should drive the Dempster Highway. Basically, the condition of that highway is like going four-wheeling in a quarry pit compared to some of these highway systems we have up here and people should drive that highway system for themselves to see exactly what the condition of that highway is. I know for a fact there have been several accidents on that highway and, personally, driving that highway system was in regard to the condition of that road system. It is a gravel highway on which a lot of times you are dealing with loose gravel and you are dealing with conditions which most drivers are not able to manoeuvre on because they just do not have the experience of driving on gravel roads.
Madam Chairperson, I ask this question about calcium and resurfacing and finding a way to deal with this problem of loose gravel and accidents seriously. I would like something to be done because I know for a fact people are dying on that highway because of the condition of the highway. I am not asking this question frivolously because I am serious when I ask the question and I would honestly like to see this department do something to improve the condition of that highway system. If it means spending more money on calcium or trying to chip-seal it, I support that 101 percent. Just by saying that you are putting money to widen the highway system, I am talking about the maintenance of improving the condition of that highway system to bring it in line with the road between here and Fort Rae. If I had what is between here and Fort Rae, I would be happy because that is almost 99 percent better than what the Dempster Highway is. It is a solid surface on which if you pull over to the side of the road you do not have to worry about ending up in the ditch. I would like to ask the Minister again, what is being done to extend the cost of maintaining the surface of the road to make it safe for the public to travel on?
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Vince Steen Nunakput
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, the department is well aware of the condition of the Dempster Highway and the department does make efforts to maintain the highway in a safe condition. That is not to deny that the highway needs improving. The Member is correct, the highway does need improving. However, I do not think there is any point in talking about chip-sealing the Dempster Highway until the highway is widened and there is a base for the chip-seal. Normally you do not apply chip-seal to the highway until it is brought up to certain standards. Before the chip-seal process is considered, calcium is used, as the Member referred to. Again, the department will consider within the funding we have adding more calcium to the Dempster Highway but, again, we are very restricted on funding and bringing calcium all the way to the Dempster Highway is very expensive, so we have to take that into consideration along with the amount of traffic on the highway. All this we will commit to, reconsidering the amount of calcium on the Dempster Highway, but we have to take all these factors into consideration and then we will make a decision. Thank you.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Madam Chairperson. At this time I would like to move a motion.
Committee Motion 16-13(7): Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 392