Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a lot of programs underway that are aiming at building aboriginal language, including programs aimed at family literacy, and we work with the schools. The teaching and learning centres in each region are expected to develop the materials to support the teachers in the classroom, and that work should be done on an ongoing basis. I would expect that some of the materials are available now. If they're not all available immediately, it should happen within the next little while.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, the Minister touched on various programs that are being delivered in the regions and also in the North. I'd like to touch on the ALCP program, Aboriginal Language and Culture Program. Can the Minister explain to this Assembly why the aboriginal language and culture program curriculum is still the same curriculum that was introduced upon its inception sometime in the late '80s or 1990s? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would have to discuss that with the college because they would be the ones who establish the curriculum for the college-level courses. It is a program that is delivered by Aurora College. My expectation would be that it is still the same basic curriculum, because the program outcomes are expected to be the same no matter where the program is delivered. The specifics in each region would be different, because each region's language and culture are different. So the teachers teaching it in those regions are supposed to reflect that in the manner in which the program is taught. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, considering that aboriginal language and culture is the department's first priority, can the Minister provide this Assembly a time frame in which this review will, or can, be completed so that the appropriate action can be taken to deliver this program? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a meeting scheduled with the chair of the college within the next few weeks. I will endeavour to discuss this issue with the chair and, right after that, get back to the Member.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister of Transportation about the maintenance and safety issues on the Mackenzie Valley winter road, specifically within the Sahtu region. Traffic is increasing on this road because of the resource development. My question to the Minister is, due to the increase of traffic, is the government, or department, increasing its resources in terms of prevention and promotion of safety on the winter roads in the Sahtu, and even into the area of enforcement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we have been doing a lot of consultation about how we can do things better on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. Until recently, the road was designed and built in the winter seasons for re-supply and, as of late, there has been a lot of traffic on these roads as a result of exploration and oil and gas activity in the area. This year, our contracts all were at a point of expiring. We did take the time and opportunity to consult with the contractors to talk about best practices, about how we can do things better. We also met with the people from the oil and gas industry over the summer and talked about how we can work in a better partnership relationship. We have come back with some changes of how we're going to approach this, and we think they are huge improvements. We will be looking at doing a better job at providing a base and using more water when we do the development of the base. We're also looking at enhanced maintenance if there is oil and gas activity in a certain section of the road. There are a number of changes we're looking at, and they will be incorporated over this winter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The length of time the road is open is decreasing because of the climate

change, and conditions need to be optimum to handle the ever-increasing traffic loads. I want to ask the Minister about the bridge program in the Sahtu with respect to the winter road and the status of the bridges in the Sahtu region. When is the last bridge going to be put in the Sahtu? When can I advise the members in the Sahtu about the last bridge? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure if the Member is talking about ice bridges or the regular bridges. Mr. Speaker, we still have yet to put bridges across. We have eight bridges yet to construct. One of them is on the Bear River. We are anticipating that we'll have all those bridges in place by 2009. That will bring a total of 29 bridges into the Sahtu over the past few years.

We're also looking at how we can improve and build the ice bridges at a couple of areas that are causing a bottleneck. In Tulita, we need to look at a bypass in that area, and build a longer ice bridge, and work on pumping water in that area so we can build it up and have traffic crossing earlier in the season. We also are looking at improving the ice bridge along the Deline road. So there are two areas where we will see improvements this year, and they will help us extend the season by opening earlier and closing later because we will have a proper ice bridge in those areas. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. McLeod, for the two responses to the ice bridges and the construction of the Mackenzie Valley bridges program. I want to ask the Minister, the Mackenzie winter road was built in the 1970s, and it wasn't meant to take as much traffic as we see today. Often, we can't see very far because of the steep hills when you're driving, and the sharp curves. My question to the Minister is, can he please tell me if there are any plans to straighten out the Mackenzie winter road to alleviate the problems of the steepness of the hills and sharpness of the curves? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, through the strategic infrastructure funding, we've identified $40 million to the federal government, along with our territorial government investment. We know that's not going to be enough to develop and improve all the work as required on this road. We have been working on a plan called Corridors for Canada, II that we are developing and bringing forward, which identified additional resources to work on the grade work. We're hoping that will help improve visibility and safety along this road. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, people are feeling safe. The road is pretty good. I must commend the Minister on his effort in this area, along with the Premier. In terms of that, Mr. Speaker, and the people feeling some comfort and safety, would the Minister consider, in the next couple of years, having the office of the Mackenzie Valley winter road, currently situated in Fort Simpson, moved into the Sahtu region where there would be more presence in the area? Would the Minister consider paving the ice road? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.