Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to rise in the House today to share with my colleagues an issue that is very important to my constituency and to the city of Yellowknife. The issue is that of an access road being constructed to connect Highway No. 3 to the Kam Lake Industrial Park.
Mr. Speaker, this access road from Highway No. 3 is necessary to lend our attention to for a variety of reasons. As most Members are aware, Airport Road in Yellowknife is a very busy thoroughfare. In fact, during rush hours at 8:30, noon and 5:00 p.m., it can be congested to the point where some residents are avoiding it. Businesses along the route suffer as a result.
Residents who live in the area have no choice. They just have to put up with the situation. The number of large trucks and service vehicles can create a safety problem along the route for residents who bike, run or walk. The City of Yellowknife would like to pursue the construction of this road, Mr. Speaker. The question is the availability of the land to construct this much needed strategic piece of road infrastructure. As I understand it, the Department of Transportation applied for this land to facilitate future airport initiatives, while at the same time working on a joint engineering study with the City. Where is this study?
In order for the City of Yellowknife to be able to afford the construction of the access road, it would need to sell lots along the route. This would be the only way the City could afford to undertake such an endeavour. Industrial lots are at a premium in Yellowknife. This initiative would certainly help open up additional land. Mr. Speaker, I would hope that this government is not getting in the way of the City of Yellowknife and their ability to get this initiative started. We must do whatever we can to help facilitate this project. I would like to mention that I will have questions at the appropriate time on the order paper for the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.
---Applause