The Department of Transportation provides for the safe, accessible and reliable movement of people and goods throughout the Northwest Territories. The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development met with the Minister of Transportation and his staff on January 14, 2003 to review the Department of Transportation's draft main estimates for 2003-2004.
Committee members made note of a net $3.02 million increase in operations expense for the department. The department advised the net increase is due to: $1.711 million in overall changes to the department's amortization estimates; $172,000 to fund motor vehicle registry services in Yellowknife; $250,000 to fund a design review and legal work required for the drafting of the final agreement for the Deh Cho Bridge proposal; $167,000 in incremental costs associated with the administration of the Community Aerodrome Radio Stations, or CARS, on behalf of Nav Canada, net effect is nil as these costs are recovered from the third party; $370,000 to fund the implementation of the new impaired driving legislation; and, $350,000 in infrastructure contributions. The $350,000 in infrastructure contributions is comprised of $100,000 for community marine facilities and $250,000 for community access roads.
The committee also noted a net increase of $7.845 million in capital expenditures for the department from its business plans. This net increase is the result of: a correction or deletion of $455,000 in capital funding for high intensity approach lights that had already been included in the budget for the Inuvik airport's taxiway and apron upgrade project; an additional $4 million from the Canada strategic highway infrastructure fund for Highway No. 8, kilometre zero to 259, various Inuvik; a further $3.8 million from the same fund for Mackenzie River road bridges, various Inuvik; a reduction of $500,000 from $1.3 million to $800,000 for Highway No. 4, kilometre zero to 69.2, various North Slave; and an additional $1 million for public highway access roads, various territorial.
Ferry Maintenance
It is generally accepted that proper preventative and scheduled maintenance would result in reduced operational and repair costs. Committee members suggested when replacing engines for ferries, either new or rebuilt engines be purchased. Adopting this value for money approach would be more economical in the long run.
The committee noted that many of the current ferry engines may be obsolete. Ongoing maintenance for engines that should be replaced is unreliable and inevitably more expensive. Long term savings from the use of new or rebuilt engines may result in funding for other essential programs and services.
Highway Maintenance And Snow Removal
Timely snow and ice removal on the highway system is essential to public safety. It was brought to the attention of a number of committee members that on some highway sections, snow and ice removal only occurs during regular work hours. Travel takes place at all hours of the day and throughout the entire year.
The committee suggested to the department that snow and ice clearing be done as soon as possible on all sections of the highway system to ensure public safety, even on weekends and holidays, and outside regular work hours.
Apprenticeship And Other Training Programs
Training and apprenticeship programs for Northerners have remained a leading concern for members of the standing committee. These programs should be easily accessible for all Northerners. However, committee members pointed out that apprenticeship and other training programs are almost non-existent in smaller communities and are mostly concentrated in regional centres. The committee is of the position that apprenticeship and other training programs should be available in all communities, regardless of population.
Committee members were also concerned about inadequate funding levels for training programs. The government's Maximizing Northern Employment Program, or MNE, offers very limited funding. Furthermore, many people are not even aware of the training opportunities that are available. The committee recommended that the government develop a more effective communications strategy that lets people know what training programs are available in the Northwest Territories and equally important, in their own region.
Within the department, employees must pass their one-year probationary period to obtain any significant training. Barriers to training must be eliminated or at least reduced. The availability of training and other educational programs contributes to recruitment and retention success and better overall program and service delivery. To these ends, the committee suggests the department encourage its staff to take better advantage of training and other educational opportunities.
Readable Signage
Readability contributes to overall safety for the travelling public, especially on our highway system. A number of committee members pointed out that the lettering size on the government's current road signs is not large enough and is difficult to read from a moving vehicle. The committee encouraged the department to make timely efforts to improve and replace the signage on our territorial highway system.
Public Highway Access Roads
The Department of Transportation received $1 million in funding for the development and expansion of public highway access roads for 2003-2004 from its 2003-2006 business plans. The department is responsible for a number of access roads that connect communities to the highway network. These access roads are an integral part of the highway system. During the committee review of the department's main estimates, Members requested additional information from the department, including a list of communities that are eligible and the work that is planned for 2003-2004.
In a document provided to the committee, the department informed the Members, that eligible communities include Kakisa, Hay River Reserve, West Channel (Hay River), Fort McPherson, Jean Marie River and Nahanni Butte, all of which require additional upgrading and/or chipsealing. The department added that these planned improvements would improve access road safety, and decrease highway maintenance costs by reducing the blading, grader repairs, granular and dust control requirements. Improvements to public highway access roads in all of the eligible communities are planned for the upcoming fiscal year.
Committee members observed that while some funding is available to make improvements to public highway access roads, more money is needed to complete the various projects. The committee concluded that more funding must be found but not from internal reallocation. Committee members suggested if the government receives new funding, a portion of it should be redirected towards the public highway access road program. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That concludes the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development's report.
