Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past few years, I have continually raised concerns about the maintenance, the repairs and the departmental priorities with regard to Highway No. 3. Mr. Speaker, I have repeatedly written the Minister responsible for Transportation over the last few months with specific suggestions on effective maintenance and their priorities. In his responses, the Minister lists reasons why the condition of Highway No. 3 has declined. The two main reasons include the decline of permafrost, which makes the road buckle, and an increase in traffic along this road.
He rightly points out that there is a greater need for maintenance along this road but resources made available to the department have not correspondingly increased.
What must also be considered is that the amount of gravel surface has decreased and maintenance dollars have remained at the same level. Still, the road condition continues to deteriorate. In his letter to me, the Minister stated that the maintenance methods used for the past 15 years by the department are effective. If this is the case, Mr. Speaker, then these are very low standards that are being used for Highway No. 3.
In the past, I have suggested more effective ways of maintaining this section of road because the conditions of the road have changed and it needed more attention.
Mr. Speaker, it has continually appeared to me that the department's priorities are on Highway No. 4 and the city streets over Highway No. 3 in the North Slave region. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, I witnessed work being done on roads into the city and also on the Ingraham Trail, but there were no crews on Highway No. 3.
Although I have been assured by the Minister that all highways have the same priorities, this is not reflected in actual practice. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions on these issues later today. Thank you.