Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask several questions about the department here. The first has to do with the safety of the winter roads in terms of the region I represent, Sahtu region.

The winter roads have seen an increase in traffic and activity. We also have seen a number of projects happen that would improve and enhance the quality of our roads. I would like to see if there are going to be continued road safety signs; realigning the roads from the curbs, from the hills; and what this department proposes to do with the amount of traffic. We saw last year in Sahtu heavy equipment passing with rigs on them, chains on the tires. Traffic is coming all hours of the night. People in my region take advantage of the winter roads, as they open sometimes in January, sometimes a little later. They close in March, and that window of opportunity closes for them.

There are lots of concerns coming from my region about the big rigs coming in. Sometimes they get quite scared when they travel. Usually the best time for travelling on the Mackenzie Valley winter road is at nighttime, because you can see the lights; that’s the only way they know that other vehicles being used by oil companies are on the road.

I’d ask the department: in terms of enhancing the quality or safety of our roads what is the department proposing to do on these winter roads up in the Sahtu region?