Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Crosswalks across public highways within communities is an issue across Canada and really highlights our government’s responsibility to promote public safety and enhance the feasibility and traffic controls at these intersections. Hay River does have a GNWT highway that runs the full length of our town.

Today I’d like to highlight the important public safety issues for the people of Hay River. The pedestrian crossing located on Highway No. 2 near The Rooster convenience store and gas station is more hazardous than it should be. Constituents have reported that it is a dangerous crossing, being a poorly lit corner, and it is confusing to drivers as the streetlights and the crosswalk lights look very similar from a distance.

We have a large residential area on one side of the area and the schools and all of the hospitals and many other places people work on the other side of the highway. So this is a crosswalk which is used very, very extensively. This may seem like a minor

issue, but last fall, unfortunately, a pedestrian was hit by a driver in that intersection.

This issue had already been raised to me prior to this accident occurring and the Department of Transportation did respond. They performed an investigation and made recommendations to improve the safety of that crosswalk last September. Since that time, the Minister of Transportation has passed on news that changes to the crosswalk are being considered to go ahead this summer. These improvements would include new lighting, improved signage and replacement of the overhead light flashing system.

I’d like to thank the Minister and his department for the work that they’ve done reviewing this Highway No. 2 crosswalk in Hay River and I look forward to seeing these improvements this summer.

I learned when I came from Ontario to western Canada that pedestrians have the right of way, but I think we need a very clear awareness campaign with reflective stripes and all kinds of other things to teach people that just because you have the right-of-way does not mean that you should step out onto the road. People need to look and live. Thank you.