Debates of March 28th, 2000

This is page numbers 345 - 390 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd 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 chairman.

Topics

Members Present
Item 1: Prayer
NWT Power Corporation Receives National Recognition For Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Maintenance Priorities On NWT Highways
Proposal For Community Response To Yellowknife Housing Needs
Western Arctic Leadership Program
North Slave Medical Travel Contracts
Second Annual Territorial Skills Competition
Western Arctic Leadership Program
Hunting License Residency Requirements
Yellowknife Arts Scene
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Arsenic Transported Within The City Of Yellowknife
NWT Family Counselling Services
Western Arctic Leadership Program
Deputy Speaker: Thank You, Mr. Allen. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.
Medical Travel In The Dogrib Region
Western Arctic Leadership Program
Resident Hunter Requirements
Involvement In Sadd
Western Arctic Leadership Program
Emergency And Transitional Housing Proposal
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Staff Housing
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In terms of added enforcement to maintain the controls and motor vehicle rules of the road in the Providence area, we currently administer or cover that area by enforcement officers, an enforcement office that works out of Yellowknife and then our patrols that work out of the Enterprise site and Hay River. The challenge we have is that it is many kilometres of highway, and the traffic volumes at certain times of the day are not very high. The speed issue on Highway No. 3 was addressed in this Assembly last summer, and amendments were made to the Motor Vehicles Act and the Public Highways Act, to reflect those changes. The highway is now posted at 100 kilometres an hour. The problem is people often do not abide by the posted speed. We have had many occasions, as the Member indicated, of bison hits on the Highway No. 3 section.

That has been a challenge for us. We do not believe that added enforcement during various times of day is going change that incident as much as we hope. We have a challenge here as well, in terms of resources and the number of positions we have available to dispatch from our motor vehicles branch. We have also taken the measure to encourage the RCMP to step up their patrols. It is a responsibility of the RCMP as well to patrol the highway system. We have asked them to pursue further enforcement of the Motor Vehicles Act on the highways as well, and will continue to do so, as well as deploying a staff that we currently have to where they are most needed. Obviously, the incident in Fort Providence clearly points to some stepped up enforcement needed by our patrols out of the Enterprise area. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. McLeod.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I agree with the deputy minister when he states there are many kilometres to patrol. The officers are not able to cover it. Being from Fort Providence, I realize that the presence there is very few and far between. I do not think that we have even addressed how to deal with the bison issue. Raising the kilometre speed limit is surely not one way to do it. The community and I are very concerned that for over two years now, we have had near disasters. I am looking for an answer as to how the department is going to deal with that. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I can commit that the department will review the issue, and I can respond to the Member on it. Perhaps by the time we deal with the mains, I will be able to give the Member some kind of response as to how we could possibly improve our presence at that particular stretch of highway. Thank you.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The detail we received from the department under the region various territorial, we showed $300,000 in this interim for bridge rehabilitation, various. If we are actually going to spend this money in the next three months or so, we must know where these rehab projects are taking place. I was wondering if we could get that information from the department.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will defer that to the deputy minister.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This program is ongoing and has been for many years since the transfer of the highways from the federal government. The purpose of the program is to ensure the existing bridge structures on the system are properly repaired and maintained to protect them for the long term. Normally, bridges are intended to last sixty plus years.

The scope of work for 2000-2001 specifically requested through the interim is on two specific projects. On Highway No. 5, on kilometre 55 at the Buffalo River Bridge, we are proceeding with deck rehabilitation and some bearing repairs, which will preserve the structure for the long term. Deck rehabilitation, typically speaking to the wearing deck, which often spoils and the concrete starts to wear off and needs to be rehabilitated. The bearings, which we do not see, are the points where the bridge super structure actually sits on the abutments.

The second project under this interim bill request is for Highway No. 1, the Trout River Bridge, kilometre 324. In that location, the bridge rails need to be replaced. They do not meet up to bridge code standard. The new concrete approach slabs and some guard rail replacements, which is a safety issue for operation of the structure. Those two projects will proceed subject to approval of the interim. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Right under that in our documents is a major culvert replacement, again various. I was wondering if we could find out where, since the department is planning $400,000 here, if they could tell us where those culverts will be replaced.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The deputy minister could respond to that one as well.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Similarly, this program targets major culvert structures, not the normal small pipes that you see under the road for drainage purposes, but rather large structural pipes on the system.

Two projects are proposed which have been identified in our multi-year inventory replacement plan. Those projects are on Highway No. 1 at kilometre 514 and on Highway No. 1 at kilometre 525. Two large pipes, I believe they are three or four metre structures at the location that are multi-plate structural plates that are being replaced. These specific ones were identified together to optimize the economy. Actually, one site near another to replace. They were next on our needs base. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A little further on, I see there is an amount in there for the overlay of runway 1533 and some other work in the amount of $175,000. I cannot believe that you can do much of an overlay for that price. What exactly is this plan? Is this just for minor repairs on that runway? Or is it for a complete overlay?

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

March 27th, 2000

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Steen.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vince Steen

Vince Steen Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Vician will respond to that.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Vician.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Vician

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As the Member indicated, no, this would not be the type of funding required to do a complete overlay of the major runway at the Yellowknife airport. That would be a multi-million dollar project. This specific work is a repair project on the runway, on 1533, which is the primary runway at the Yellowknife airport. We have had some localized settlement of the runway surface. Air carriers have indicated concerns with regards to that. Our engineering staff has looked at that and identified the need to do a patch repair. That is what the project is dealing with, for this summer.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Dent.

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was just wondering, what is the base like on that runway? I understand that 0927 was overlaid not that long ago. I hear it has developed some very serious frost heaves and cracking in the fairly recent past. Is there a situation here where we have a problem with the bases, that we are going to be faced with a major problem in the not too distant future?