Oh, are we talking a motion?

Okay. Sorry. Thank you. I would just like the breakdown from the Minister on this budget. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. For the Mackenzie Valley bridge programming money of $13 million for this year, we have $1 million slated for grading improvements on the Mackenzie Valley highway. For this year there's, of course, been re-scoping of the Great Bear River Bridge so that's not being done, but the rest of the money is being spent on Little Smith Creek, Big Smith Creek, Bob's Canyon Creek, Blackwater

River and Strawberry Creek bridges as the remaining $12 million. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Minister. Mr. Yakeleya. Or, Ms. Lee; sorry. Ms. Lee.

I must say I am not familiar with all of those beautiful names that just got listed, but I should try to go visit those places. I just want to put on record that I believe the bridge program -- and I think this is to facilitate winter roads -- is an excellent program. It's something that started, I think, on a small scale. I used to sit on GED in the last Assembly and I believe they were, you know, a very small amount of money that started and I really do believe that this is...You know, there's a saying you build roads and they will come. I'm sure they will eventually turn into all-weather roads. I know that in my opening statement I spoke about the how important it is for us to get those roads in the Mackenzie Valley built and to have all the communities accessible. I know that in this House there is a lot of discussion about how much Yellowknife gets versus others and I guess that is a good position to take when you're coming from out of the communities and that everybody's doing their job. However, I think it's also important to recognize when there is money being spent in small communities that Yellowknife Members support such projects.

I'd like to know, you know, honestly, it's very important to say that. There's a lot of money going here for small communities and if the outsiders listen to us, because Yellowknife Members don't get up and talk about how money is going to communities. I don't want there to be an impression that all money goes to Yellowknife and not anywhere else. Thirteen million dollars is not a small amount of money. Highway No. 3 every year, I think, was about $10 million. This is a great start and I want to encourage the department to keep on working on that.

There are other various bridge programs; there's about $950,000 being spent there and, of course, you need these bridges to extend the winter road. I just want to ask, I always believed that Highway No. 3, because it was such a high traffic area, I mean, money was going there not because it was Yellowknife or anywhere near Yellowknife, but that's where the highway was and it is and it always has been the highest traffic highway in the Territories and the money had to be spent accordingly. I would like to ask if it's a safe assumption to say that having finished Highway No. 3 has given the department the capacity to take care of projects like this. Is there any kind of direct correlation to that or the department has...I guess my question is, do you still have the same level of capital funding and now you're able to move your priorities elsewhere such as the winter bridge program?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple comments maybe. The first one was that, absolutely, the Mackenzie Valley bridge program is one of our huge expenditures that we are certainly spending outside of Yellowknife. Members consistently bring up the point that let's build our Mackenzie Valley road and we are working towards that. It's not that it's not happening. Just between Wrigley and Fort Good Hope, up to date we'll be constructing 37 of the 40 bridges required to get up to Good Hope, as well as there's lots of many factors. I'm glad that we're having bridges up there because it is extending our highway season, especially with the pressures of climate changes. It's very, very good timing that we can and we're able to do that. Of course, it's with the assistance of our federal infrastructure programming that that's being done, as well as Highway No. 3. Our federal infrastructure programming is going to end in two years and certainly the Member is right. Once all the construction that's necessary for Highway No. 3 is expected to be completed within two years and certainly once we get another infrastructure pot of money, either sets of three or highway boards infrastructure fund we can look at reallocating other priorities that's in our beautiful Northwest Territories. We'll continue to work towards that and continue to improve our infrastructure. All our infrastructure is a priority, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Minister. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that too. Let me just say, it was my understanding that most of the money that was spent on Highway No. 3 came from the federal government because of the fact that it is a stretch of national Canada. What is it? No, there's a name for it. The Trans-Canada Highway, I think that's what I mean to say. Is there any way to lobby the federal government to recognize the Mackenzie Valley highway as, what is it? Trans...I'm just...I'm lost for words today. But you know what I mean. That would help us get some funding from the federal government that we need. I want to get a clarification from the Minister, because it's my understanding that the bridge programs and the work that we're doing in the Mackenzie Valley highway is mostly territorial responsibility at the moment. What is the cost-sharing arrangement with the federal government?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Absolutely, Highway No. 3 is considered a road under the national highway system and is certainly recognized as that. The cease of funding, it's all 50/50 funding, so half of the money is actually GNWT own source funds that's going towards our infrastructure program in the North. We have brought it up in the past and included in our documents that the Mackenzie Valley highway be considered as part of the national highway system, but in fact they are considering it, I believe the term is northern feeder route. It's a start of recognizing it in our national highway system, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Anything further, Ms. Lee? No. Next on the list I have Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple of quick, I think more information in regard to the chipseal overlay program, 3.5. Where are these? What communities are involved? Also with regard to the culvert replacement for 1.5. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. The Member's comment with regard to chipseal overlay program, it is based on need and it is for all our highway systems and that's how we allocate it: based on needs. As well as the culvert system, so that's in our budget for this fiscal year. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Minister. Anything further, Mr. Pokiak?

No, that's good. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Next on the list I've got Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The highways that I want to ask the Minister of Transportation in terms of when can he expect to have a completion of the bridges that he listed just recently? I know the three bridges that are, when you look at the districts in terms of the boundaries for Blackwater, Strawberry, and Bob's Canyon, they're in the south end of my riding in the Sahtu. I think they're in the Nahendeh riding. Little Smith and Big Smith are in my riding. I know they started some work last year, Mr. Chairman, on the Little Smith Bridge and they had some difficulties on that bridge and they're re-examining that bridge. They're looking at Big Smith this year. So I'm not going to belabour the Minister of the department on those bridges, it's just the completion of those bridges that he listed previously in his comments to another Member. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Minister.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Out of the five bridges that we had discussed earlier, they will begin this year and be completed by the end of next fiscal year. Thank you very much.