Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to follow up on one other item from a discussion that Mr. Vician offered a few minutes ago, on the overall issue of highway enforcement and compliance, and the offer that the RCMP have given to look into this on a much more detailed level and come back with some recommendations. Do I generally have that understanding correct, Mr. Chairman? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am encouraged by this as well. Given what we have now in the way of traffic, not only in the way of...we get a lot of attention because of the increased density of traffic on the winter road cycle. There is a lot more traffic in the Deh Cho and Sahtu areas and in the Mackenzie Delta. Of course, we are anticipating sustained traffic out there. When and if this Highway Strategy kicks in and all of our roads are exquisitely paved and painted, we are going to get a lot more tourism traffic up here, so I am encouraged with the initiative the RCMP have taken. I look forward to the support.

I guess my final question would be to what extent is the Minister or the department going to keep MLAs informed of progress? To what extent might this committee also involve other user groups, such as the trucking industry? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a question in response to the department's answer to Mr. Bell's earlier question. I was listening to the answer, but I am not sure if I understood what the answer was saying. I am in possession of the same information that Mr. Bell has.

In my first reading of it, it appears to me the department has discontinued doing something that it has done to cooperate with the City of Yellowknife in terms of some of the data on motor vehicles registration, and also having a system in place where the registration may be denied when people have tickets owing or outstanding charges or something. There was a cooperation that was happening that has resulted in the city being able to get the job done without having to have their own manpower and such.

I have two questions. What has brought about this change? I do not believe there has been a change in the Access to Information Act. That is not a new act.

My second question is that it just appears to me it seems to be contrary to the partnership and working together that we are trying to foster. Will the Minister and the department consider revisiting this change in policy? Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Those are my two questions.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, I will direct the question to Mr. Vician.

Thank you, Mr. Vician. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would just like to state that I appreciate the answer from the deputy minister. I could accept the fact that this may be a sensitive situation, but I would really encourage the Minister and the department to revisit this issue to see whether or not it is at all possible to rearrange the working relationship with the city.

I have one question. In the review that the department will undertake on this issue, I am still not clear as to what would have brought about this change, because access to information, not only in this jurisdiction, but it is not new in all parts of Canada. I am just curious to see what has brought about the change in the legal opinion to raise a red flag or to convey some sort of concern about confidentiality.

Mr. Bell had stated that this is not the trend that is being followed in other jurisdictions, yet they are subject to their own access to information acts. I would think there might be some room to manoeuvre here. I am not trying to challenge that legal opinion of the access to information commissioner, but this is not something that is only being done or is only being proposed in this jurisdiction.

I would urge the Minister and the department to review that legal opinion again and see if there is room to manoeuvre there. It appears to me that where the municipalities are all on their financial restraint where we cannot give them anymore money, the least we could do is not take away something they did not have to spend money on, where they will have to put their own money into it. I would really urge the Minister and the department to just revisit it with a view of putting it back where it was before. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this issue was brought to my attention just recently. As a matter of fact, I believe it was just today that I received a letter from the city in regard to this particular issue. I do have a briefing scheduled with the department as to how we can address the city's concerns, including having another look at how in fact the access to information legislation applies in this case. I can assure the Member we are going to have another look at this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the area of motor vehicles, there has been much discussion about the economic up-turn in the Northwest Territories when it comes to mines and to oil and gas. There is definitely an increase in commercial traffic up and down the highways. Has the department undertaken any activity or work in the area of beefing up their operations in the area of weigh scales? I know the department has a vehicle that can go up and down the highways and do its checks out on the highway system as well. Are there any plans for increasing their monitoring and enforcement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, if I may direct the question to Mr. Vician.

The deputy minister, Mr. Vician.

Mr. Roland.