Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I too would like to go on record and express similar concerns as those expressed by my honourable colleague, Mr. Miltenberger, about Highway No. 5. There has been no mention of Highway No. 6 in the interim budget, or in any other budget that I have seen for the Department of Transportation.
I know our financial constraints as a government do not put us in very good status, as it has been mentioned within this department. However, there is a section on Highway No. 6, just past Buffalo River, about 15 to 20 kilometres outside of Fort Resolution, which has very poor drainage. It is costing the department quite a bit to maintain every year. It is also a safety hazard. Now, with the safety issue, I think the department should really take a close look at that particular area of the road and send in some engineers to see if they could do something about the drainage problems. There are people in the highway system, who are in High Level, outside of Yellowknife, who have claimed that that area is at low lake level. As such, there have been a few vehicle accidents over the last little while. There is great concern by the members of the Fort Resolution community. That is the only transportation link into the community. There are no scheduled flights that fly into the community.
Hay River is a major help for them in terms of supply, fuel, and other goods and products. I would strongly suggest to the Minister that the department have a close look at that particular stretch of road, and indeed the whole 90 kilometre stretch from the old Pine Point side, which is where the pavement ends, to the community of Fort Resolution. To date, there are no chip-seals. There is no crushing. There are only 52 kilometres of that 90 kilometre road under dust control. This may not be a time to ask for any type of commitment from the Minister on this issue, but I would like to hear his thoughts. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.