Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that the department does not need any clarification as to whether that road is unsafe. We probably more than anyone else, recognize the condition of the road. However, we do not come to the conclusion that the road is unsafe, otherwise we would close it. It is as simple as that.

We believe the road is safe if you drive as to the conditions of that highway. We posted speed signs that reduced the speed limits and we were encouraged that this is in fact what is happening. The speeds have been reduced and that is encouraging to us. We do not want, any more than anyone else, unsafe conditions on that highway.

Those unsafe conditions, from the department's point of view, are largely related to weather conditions rather than to our ability to maintain it. We, more than anyone else, would probably like to increase the reconstruction phase, advance that, and have that highway reconstructed in half the time to address the concerns expressed by the public. However, like I said, the dollars are what is controlling everything right now, and we just do not have them. So we are doing the best we can with what we have. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to remind the Minister that the sign went up in the middle of summer and now it is in the middle of the winter. The sign has not come down. I do not think that has anything to do with weather. When you put a sign up saying it is windy and dangerous, the speed limit is reduced, I think any reasonable person will draw a conclusion that the road is not safe.

Mr. Speaker, would he not use that? I am asking the Minister to tell the federal Minister that that road cannot handle the traffic that it will have this winter with Diavik coming on stream...

Ms. Lee, would you please ask a question? This is a final supplementary. Please ask a question.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I have the Minister tell the federal officials that we need extra money for Highway No. 3? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is hard to compare the amount of dollars the mining industry has compared to what we have as a government and expect the same results. They just have a lot more revenue than we have, so they have the ability to construct facilities as the Member has seen.

Our ability to address the mining needs and the impact they have on our highways is very limited right now. I can assure the Member and the House that we are considering ways of encouraging the oil and gas and mining industries to share in the cost of our highways. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today, I spoke of the inability of the residents in small communities to receive a fair trial. While I acknowledge that the court party does travel to the smaller communities and there is a perception that justice does occur, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, when a court party comes in and legal aid lawyers are given approximately ten or 15 minutes to talk to their clients before court starts, could the Minister of Justice tell this Assembly whether there is a minimum requirement for consultation between a legal aid lawyer and a person accused of a crime? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding then that there is a standard set. I would like to ask the Minister whether the new Legal Services Board is implementing the service standards that lawyers must follow? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister stated that there is a requirement for a 24-hour period for consultation. I can attest that this is not being followed and I do not think that is being implemented. I would like to ask the Minister if he would commit to reviewing and doing some consultation in the communities to see if that is indeed the case? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

In the communities I represent, the case is usually that the plane comes in with the court party and they are shuttled off to the facility that is going to be used as a court room. There is a quick consultation period, then the court proceeds. There is never, at least from my understanding, somebody who is present to translate. Very often there is no court worker in the community. Our services come from a different riding. I would like to ask the Minister to tell this Assembly how the courts determine translation requirements for court dates in the communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Justice, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.