Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A couple of comments I would like to make with a couple of questions for Minister McLeod. I like the work the Department of Transportation is doing. With the way things are going to be going the next few years, Transportation is going to be really affected by all the development that is going to be going on.

Mrs. Groenewegen spoke to the fact that Hay River is going to see an increase. The Minister mentioned that Inuvik will also see an increase. I know it's been a concern of the town council in Inuvik as one of the roads there, the bypass road, and then there is the road going down to NTCL where a lot of the stuff is going to get unloaded from the barge. I am glad the Minister mentioned that and it was something I was going to bring up.

I had a chance to drive along Highway No. 3, and hear some of my other colleagues speak about their concerns with Highway No. 3, and I found it to be a very good road. That's probably because I drive the Dempster quite a bit. I was surprised how wide the corridors were on Highway No. 3. I wonder if the Minister's department has much contact with the Government of the Yukon on their portion of the highway. Is there some talk back and forth as to how they can improve their portion? There used to be a time when you'd drive the Dempster and you knew you got into the Yukon side because the roads got a lot smoother, but now it's just the opposite; the NWT side seems to be a lot better.

I am glad to see that in the Minister's opening comments, he spoke to the fact that there is going to be $5 million going into the highway. It can be a very dangerous highway in the summertime with the dust especially. The dust is terrible. We've had a few accidents on there. I am surprised there's not a few more because it is really bad when you drive that highway in the summertime. The dust is terrible. There is loose gravel on parts of the highway. They've widened the highway and maybe just because we can't get proper gravel or proper rock to cover the road with. I spoke on chipsealing and we'd love to see from Inuvik right to the Fort McPherson ferry, we'd like to see chipseal there. It would make driving that road much more enjoyable.

I'm a big supporter of the highway down the Mackenzie Valley, like most people I've spoken to a couple of times. I think it would really be a benefit to everyone down the highway. Right now, up in the Beaufort-Delta, we seem to have more in common with Whitehorse than we do Yellowknife, because we all have an opportunity to drive down there and Whitehorse seems to be the one that's benefiting from our big-ticket purchases, vehicles. We get a lot of stuff from Whitehorse. If you go down to Whitehorse at any given time, you see lots of people from the Beaufort-Delta down there. So the fact that we have a highway down the Mackenzie would really help. I think a lot more people would come this way, rather than go to Whitehorse. I think the Minister and his shop are probably the right people to have in place right now to push for our highway. I would suggest that we name it after the Minister; McLeod Highway. It's got a nice ring to it.

---Laughter

I think the department is doing some good work. I have always had a concern with the Dempster, like a lot of people who drive it. I am curious, though. I heard a couple of my colleagues mentioning the Ingraham Trail and servicing the mines. I am just curious, Mr. McLeod, if the government, or Transportation, contributes to the winter road that goes to the mines, too. Thanks a lot. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I thank the Member for his comments. The concept of connecting all parts of the Northwest Territories is something we really support, including connecting to the rest of Canada, and our submission is named after that whole idea of connecting Canada from coast to coast to coast. We will continue on working to improve the Mackenzie Valley winter road, regardless of what it ends up being called.

The Dempster Highway is a road that has been concerned in terms of the age and investment on that road, some of the maintenance that was deferred. We recognize that it's an area that needed significant investment and has to be reconstructed. There is also concern over some of the construction methods that were used a long time ago when this road was used, and the frost heaving that takes place on that road. So we've earmarked that this road be reconstructed over the next while at a rate of $5 million a year, and we are working right now from McPherson to the Yukon border.

I agree there was a time when the Dempster Highway, the road on the Yukon side of the border, was very good quality and is not at the same level anymore. We've had a number of discussions with the Honourable Glenn Hart from the Yukon government. He holds the same portfolios in the Yukon government as I do. So we have the opportunity to have discussions and meet with him on a fairly regular basis. We've had discussions in terms of how do we improve the maintenance on the road overall; how can we avoid or how can we deal better with some of the real major storms that happen on some sections of that road; how do we deal with the high level of snowfall and get it off the road early; are there areas where we can share some of the responsibility? We have a camp and locations that are probably better suited for responding. So we will continue to have those discussions to see if we can come up with an improved plan to deal with the road, the Dempster Highway. We've also discussed about having our own forces doing it versus contract crews and the ability of who can respond quicker or better, which way we should be looking at going.

Highway No. 4 is something that was one area that was earmarked in our Corridors for Canada for investment. It was one of six areas that was identified to be impacted by heavy resource development. It was also, at the end of the day, when the budgets were approved, this was one area that the federal government indicated that we should be jointly investing in. Our responsibility for the Ingraham Trail, I should point out, ends at Tibbett Lake. The remainder of the road is not our responsibility. The

diamond mines share the costs on putting that road in every year and we don't pay for any part of it. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next I have Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I only have a few comments to provide. I had the opportunity a little while ago to visit the airport and see the new development, the baggage handling area. I would like to say, from my perspective, I was happy and very appreciative of the tour that was offered of the facility. I think Ms. Lee and I were the only two Members who happened to make it down to see the conveyor belt system where the baggage has to travel through. I was quite appreciative of what was brought forward as I learned about what was being done there. I thought it was a great result that the baggage is being screened to ensure that it is safe, although I personally believe it's a little bit of overkill from the transportation point of view of Canada's position. But I see northerners are meeting the challenges that are being put forward to us, so I recognize that the ministry of Transportation is taking a higher directive through CATSA. I liked what was being done there.

To continue on the airport theme, I am also delighted to say that I like the development of the way the airport's been going. It was a major concern of mine that we shook the utilitarian look of that facility and bring in some windows, get some natural light in there and some feeling. I am seeing results of that, so I am very pleased the department is listening to concerns that have been raised some time ago, but they were heard, obviously. It has a nice personable feel to it. You don't feel like you were locked into a warehouse waiting for your plane. I am very happy to see that the department has responded. It's more of an enjoyable public place. I guess that's really what I can say.

As far as the highway is concerned, it's nice to see that Diefenbaker's dream from back in the '50s is hopefully coming to its last phase. I hadn't quite thought of naming it the McLeod Highway, but I certainly thought that; of either McLeods. The dream is finally coming true about opening the North to the rest of Canada. I think it helps to solidify our rightful place in Canada to show that we are truly part of it and the highway system, I think, demonstrates Canada's commitment to us as northerners and as Canadians.

Just quickly moving through, the last area I want to mention is the drivers' licence initiative. I brought this up a number of times with the Minister, as he knows. He's probably tired of hearing me bring this up because he will be quite happy when, as he pointed out, this spring he will finally come forward with a new driver's licence card. I am sure he'll say that's the last time I will have to hear from Hawkins on that matter. So he will probably be very happy.

I am quite pleased, as well, that the department is bringing back the service of notice renewal for this. I think that's a truly tremendous initiative being brought back because, through my perspective as an MLA and just a regular citizen, the people out there who I have spoken to feel that the revival of the service is a basic service. There is a feeling that this need is required. It's a small thing that people enjoy and serve. I am glad the Minister is listening. I am glad the department is meeting the needs of the people. I think it's a basic service that our government can deliver in meeting the needs of the people. I am very pleased that that is coming back. I don't have to harp or lecture about how painful it was for people to remember after five years. They know the story and they are obviously finding ways to overcome the challenges where people sometimes forget their renewal.

In closing, Mr. Chairman, although I don't have a question at this time, I just want to say that I think it should be well stated that the Department of Transportation, from my perspective over the last little while, and I certainly see it as well in the future, is definitely meeting the needs of some of the requirements that we are putting here. From my perspective, that's all I am going to put forward at this moment.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is no real question there, but just to reply to some of the comments made by Mr. Hawkins, we are quite happy that we were able to get the baggage screening requirement all in place. The airport expansion has gone really well. There is just a little bit on the groundside that has to be completed and some other minor work that we are waiting to get done, including the walkway on the outside of the building. We are hoping to have all aspects of this facility completed by April of this year. I am not sure we have anything planned for an opening, but we certainly will offer to have more tours of this facility. I should also note that CATSA is doing a review of their security requirements again, so we are not sure what that will mean at the end of the day; whether it will mean additional security requirements in other airports or additional flights having to use the facility. We will have to wait until that happens.

The Mackenzie Valley submission is something that I think has generated a lot of interest. Also, this will require a lot of work, a lot of lobbying. We have a long way to go yet before that becomes a reality, but I am hoping that we will see something positive.

The drivers' licence issue I responded to Mrs. Groenewegen on this issue and indicated that it's something we will see in April/May this year and also bringing back the notice of renewal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would like to recognize Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

Thank you. There is a motion on the floor to report progress. It's not debatable. All those who agree? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

I will rise and report progress. I would like to thank you Minister McLeod for coming in and I would also like to thank his staff, Mr. Auger and Mr. Neudorf. I would like to ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to take our friends out, I guess.

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole? Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 18, Appropriation Act, 2006-2007, and Committee Report 6-15(4) and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Is there a seconder for the motion? The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 16, 2006, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 17:49 p.m.