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…peak of our season. People throughout the Northwest Territories are enjoying greater ease of travel between the communities along the winter roads, a key feature of our northern way of life and doing business. We all agree that public safety is a top priority on our winter roads. Roadside assistance is available on the public winter highway system through the Alberta Motor Association and the Ford Roadside Assistance, who contract the nearest local contractor on a driver’s behalf and within a short time help is on its way.

This service enhances public safety in a way the North has never experienced before. But it seems because the road north of Wrigley is called an ice road instead of a public winter road, the current roadside assistance contractor in Fort Simpson is not authorized to respond to calls on this section during these winter months.

We invest significant public resources into the construction and maintenance of our winter road system. The public also invest into these extra costs when they purchase these vehicles for roadside assistance.

I’m calling on the Minister of Transportation to contact the Alberta Motor Association and the Ford Roadside Assistance and let them know that the seasonal road north of Wrigley is a public winter road, not an ice road.

All travellers need to be prepared for unexpected events before driving on any of our highways, especially during the winter, but roadside assistance provides an added level of comfort and safety. It also helps people respond efficiently to major vehicle problems that are beyond anyone’s

control. All the Minister has to do is designate the winter road north of Wrigley as a public winter road and ensure that both the Alberta Motor Association and the Ford Roadside Assistance are aware of this designation.

The investments we make in our winter roads are worth it; our local contract service providers are worth it; and above all, the safety of the travelling public is worth it. Mahsi cho.