The winter roads are a lifeline for some of our people in our communities up in the Sahtu. There are other winter roads in the Northwest Territories that probably have the same types of issues with safety.
The climate change has been an issue now that it’s been in the back of our minds when we use the winter roads. I want to ask the Minister if there are any types of climate change initiative studies on our winter roads, either by the federal government or ourselves, to get involved in looking at the sensitivity of our environment and the issue of climate change that has an effect on our winter roads in the Sahtu, and there are probably other regions that have similar types of issues.
I do hope that there will be a time where the federal government will start putting in roads into the Sahtu. Like I said yesterday, once the oil companies go forward on a development or production phase, if the Norman Wells oilfields take off, we’re going to need all the help we can get. Right now, we don’t have that because other areas
are taking up dollars that they need to fix their roads. We need to look how we can be supported in the Sahtu.
You know what, Mr. Chair? You look at the economics in the Northwest Territories, the Sahtu contributes a lot to the Northwest Territories. We have over $600 million going to be spent in the Sahtu on oil and gas exploration. Those are just exploration activities. We need to ramp up transportation dollars to meet that in the region. There’s not too much in the Northwest Territories other than around Yellowknife where they have diamond mines that are going full bore and are being supported by the activity that is happening on the roads. The Sahtu is making a huge contribution to the economics in the Northwest Territories. We need to step up to meet that challenge. We are paying our dues. We are spending close to 200 to 300 million dollars this year. Not to have capital infrastructure in the other places where they are putting money in here, I’m not too sure if you want to do an analysis and see what kind of return we’re getting back on those dollars.
For us, we need to see some commitment from the government to see where there’s going to be some dollars. We have people travelling out with families on the winter roads. Some have had close calls with these truck drivers that are coming up from the South who are hauling huge equipment to the Sahtu for the oil companies and there are lives at stake on our roads. I want to see where the Minister and his department will start giving us due attention to our roads in the Sahtu.
Like I said, if you look at the numbers across the board, the Sahtu is putting a lot of dollars into the Northwest Territories, and maybe more. There’s going to be a day when we’re going to need some help even with the Bear River Bridge, climate change on the Mackenzie River.
Mr. Chair, I’m getting a bit concerned that we’re not putting as much of an emphasis on it as I think we should be. Mr. Ramsay, the Minister, is working hard for us, but for my people who use the winter road when it’s open, we have concerns. Just because we don’t have an all-weather road doesn’t mean we don’t have concerns. We are bringing in the oil companies. We have opened up our lands so they can do some work there and bring dollars into the Northwest Territories.
I think once the oil companies decide that it’s a good field that needs to go into production, you are going to see some major changes. I’d like to see something on the Bear River Bridge. Right now, it’s $7 million. We need to look at some type of action so we see a bridge.
Our issues need to be up there. Not very often you hear a region bringing that type of money to the economics of the Northwest Territories. You need to pay attention to us. It gets frustrating. I don’t see
other regions with those types of economics. We pour a lot of money into those regions. The Sahtu has suffered long enough in terms of winter road infrastructure.
So, for me, I’d like to see the government start paying attention and see where these types of roads can be upgraded. I have family travelling on that winter road. If I see close calls, I’m concerned. A life is not worth it. You are saying we have to cut here and there. For me that’s not acceptable. We are seeing a lot of people working in our region for the oil companies. Like I said, we have to pay attention to the money that’s coming into the Sahtu.
I guess a little frustration of my side when I look at the infrastructure. So I’d like to thank the Minister for visiting us and paying attention to some of our needs through this infrastructure and I’d like to hear what he has to say.