Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what is he doing to attempt to link as many communities as we can to our present road system, so that we can expand our transportation links to communities, so that we can eventually have a system in the North where we have the ability to drive from the majority of our communities who are accessible to our highway systems.
There may be some communities we may not be able to access, such as Holman Island or Sachs Harbour, because they are on an island, but eventually maybe we can give them ferry service.
When we do strategies or initiatives in this government, we should be looking long term. I think the goals we set for ourselves should be at some point in time in the future. We do have a road system that every resident in the Northwest Territories has the ability to drive from as many communities as possible so that we have a system that connects our communities by roads.
When will the Minister's department consider looking at doing that, knowing that we have 2,200 kilometres of highway and winter roads of some 1,400 kilometres? Will the department consider looking at the possibility of such a strategy, knowing we are having problems now with our winter systems because of the greenhouse effects?
Right now, looking outside, you can see the temperatures we are having in December, January and even in February. Has your department considered looking at such an endeavour with regard to the different strategies that you have been doing?