Thank you. Then it is continuing work on new highway initiatives from the highway strategy, without some sense from industry or this government as to where our priorities are. I am wondering if the Minister could say what further work or plans will be advanced by these additional studies. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Steen.

Mr. Chairman, referencing the highways north of Wrigley, the studies would include consultations that we had with the communities and further consultations with the federal government as to what options we would have and what ways the federal government could assist us with new loans. We must keep in mind that the policy of the government is that the territorial government is not responsible for construction in new roads. That is the responsibility of the federal government. We have to continue pressuring the federal government to come forward and put in place their mandate of constructing new roads as needed.

In reference to the geological basin, the road which would be or could be depending on the plan, the further extension of Highway No. 4 or it could lead off from Rae. It depends what the people and the stakeholders agree to, as to which route that will be taken. However, what we are doing is looking into the possibilities of other options of paying for construction of the road and the resources. Those options include suggested road authority, or some form of joint venture between the governments and industry, as to exactly how we could construct a road into the geological basin without the public having to pay for the capital and for the maintenance. We are looking into all options right now. The department is seriously considering different options as to how we can involve the industry, as well as the federal government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Will these continuing rounds of studies then result in a document or a proposal that would come before this government, or before Northerners, with clear recommendations on where the next priorities will be for new road construction? Can the Minister give us a sense of just what these studies will produce for us, and help us make the next decision?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the general public has indicated that they do not want studies to be paid for and then shelved. And in particular, I do not favour the study taking forever to be produced and for the stakeholders to have a final input into it, and then disagree on the outcome. We will ensure the stakeholders and this government have opportunities, including the Legislative Assembly, in deciding exactly how we are going to proceed after the studies have been completed. For the timelines and the studies, I will ask the deputy minister to respond as to when we can expect to have these final reports in the hands of the stakeholders. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Steen.

Mr. Chairman, as I have said yesterday, and I will repeat myself again, I feel the department is doing whatever is necessary to maintain the highways with the crews that we have. The crews are, in fact, maintaining the sections they have been assigned to. I stand behind the department that we are maintaining the highways. As a matter of fact, I am getting to the point where I will be happy to supply the Member exactly where the graders were on a certain time and a certain date, whether or not they were, in fact, maintaining the highways. Whether in fact the plow truck was running.

But to further respond to the Member's concerns as to whether or not we could contract out to municipalities, I will refer that to the department as to what our policy is on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician, did you wish to respond?

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Steen.

I thank the Member for his suggestion. I can assure him that the department will, in fact, seriously consider his suggestions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to raise a question I had asked the Minister some time ago. The Minister indicated at the time he would get back to me. I am sure I will receive a response any day now. My question is regarding the concern that the travelling public has with bison on the highway close to the community of Fort Providence. Every year we have anywhere from a dozen to 20 collisions with the drive through traffic. Up to now, we have been fortunate there have been no fatalities.

The problem there is obvious. It is speed. There is very little enforcement. I believe, as do many people in the community I represent, that a lot of this can solved if we have the presence of a highway patrol officer there. It would increase the employment opportunities in the community. This year, we also had a near disaster on the ice bridge with the semi-truck going through the ice. There was no monitoring. There are no people making sure that the traffic is not coming onto the ice bridge. There is nobody checking to see how fast they are travelling.

I would like to ask the Minister what he is doing in response to the request of Fort Providence to have a highway patrol office stationed there?

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I know we have had some requests from Fort Providence to have some kind of patrol on the ice crossing. I think it would be appropriate for the deputy minister to respond to see how we can accommodate the Member's concern in this area as far as safety goes. As far as increasing our highway patrol in that area, I will ask Mr. Vician if he could respond to that question. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.