Debates of April 27th, 1999

This is page numbers 357 - 395 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was highway.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
International Year Of Older Persons
Preserving Aboriginal Languages
Minister Absent From The House
Contributions Of Seniors To NWT Society
Passing Of Harry Koyina
Shortage Of Teachers In Tsiigehtchic
Chamber Of Commerce Recommendations On Government Contracting
Rental Of Restricted And Adult Movies To Youth
Return To Oral Question 60-13(7): Student Hiring Program
Return To Oral Question 110-13(7): Report To Minister Of Pw&s On Issues Raised By Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Vacancies On NWT Development Corporation Board Of Directors
Shortage Of Teachers In Tsiigehtchic
Appointment Of Development Corporation Presidents
Rental Of Restricted And Adult Movies To Youth
Tulita Hotel Project
Oil And Gas Exploration
Treatment Referral Methods
Auditor General's Report On Development Corporation Operations
Development Corporation Project Evaluation Criteria
Written Question 4-13(7): Decentralization Of Human Resources Functions To Departments
Return To Written Question 1-13(7): Report To Minister Of Public Works And Services On Issues Raised By The Conflict Of Interest Commissioner
Budget Reply 4-13(7)
Budget Reply 5-13(7)
Tabled Document 33-13(7): Letter From Inuvik Health And Social Services Board Regarding Northern Addiction Services Treatment Dollars
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 3 Reconstruction
Giving Priority To Accelerating Highway 8 Reconstruction
Item 21: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 23: Orders Of The Day

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Vician. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. 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 391

Vince Steen

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Mr. Vician.

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Vician. 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

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. 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

April 27th, 1999

Page 391

Vince Steen

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

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you. Inuvik. 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

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

No, that is okay. I was going to disagree.

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

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

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. 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 391

Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Mr. Vician will respond to those two questions.

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

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.

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. 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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Vician. 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 392

Vince Steen

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

The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Steen. 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 392

David Krutko

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?