Thank you very much,
Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, the part of the highway system that connects Nahendeh communities to other NWT communities and southern Canada is, quite frankly, a mess. Highway No. 7 between Checkpoint and Fort Liard has been closed intermittently for several weeks, and this has caused a lot of frustration for people in my region.
Mr.
Speaker, I am relieved to hear that the
Department of Transportation has a plan to reconstruct the road and has begun the work. I am also pleased that the Department of Transportation is investing in Highway No. 7 through the capital plan. I hope this investment includes the chipsealing of that road. This would make road travel safer by reducing dust, washboards and soft spots as well as potentially reducing the amounts of maintenance and repairs.
The other challenge to our road system in Nahendeh is Highway No. 1 from the junction of Highway No. 3 to Fort Simpson. This stretch of road is in rough shape, and it, too, needs to be chipsealed. Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister of Transportation to make chipsealing that section of Highway No. 1 to Fort Simpson a priority and include it in the department’s Capital Acquisition Plan. This will greatly improve the road system for both residents and visitors to the Deh Cho region. Mahsi cho.