Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Minister.
Debates of June 23rd, 2016
This is page numbers 763-836 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was mr chair.
Topics
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
June 23rd, 2016
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Neudorf
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We do continually monitor our road. We're out on the roads every day, monitoring to ensure that they are safe. And, generally, we take action required to make sure that the road is safe, including having appropriate speed limits and signage as required, and then, as well, undertaking necessary repairs to the surface of the road. Obviously, it takes, will take, time to get the crew around to undertake all those needed repairs, and so we'll ensure that there's appropriate safety in place until that happens, including reducing speed as required.
We are continually balancing between capital and O and M, as well. If it's just a surface repair and it's a short section, then that would be a maintenance expenditure. There does come a time when the road does have to be reconstructed. Typically, we would look at upgrading the road at the same time. We do have some capital money on both Highway No. 3 and Highway No. 4 to undertake those repairs. The priority right now for Highway No. 4 is the continuing to upgrade the section past Prelude Lake, about kilometre 45 to kilometre 50 in that area. We're straightening out that road, reconstructing it.
All of this would be noted in our highway functional plans that we have. So each numbered highway has its own very high-level functional plan that would talk about the traffic, the users, the condition of the road, and then speak to some of the high-level needs and how the department is addressing those. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Neudorf. Mr. Vanthuyne, your time has expired. Do I have any further comments or questions on page 417? Seeing none, I'll call the page. Transportation, highways, operations expenditure summary, activity total $71,089,000. Agreed?
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
The Chair R.J. Simpson
We'll move on to Marine. The activity total is on page 421. We will begin by discussing the detail on page 422, active positions. Questions on page 422? Seeing no questions on page 422, return to page 421, marine, operations expenditure summary. Questions? Mr. Blake.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Where to begin? I note there are a lot of cutbacks here. I note, I'm not sure what the preparations are in Inuvik this fall, but, you know, I think people really got used to having the ferry open all fall up at Tsiigehtchic on the Mackenzie River, and I just want to know what the plans are, moving forward, because a lot of people are asking back home. You know, it sure helped out with the cost of living up there, as well. So I'd like to ask the department: what's the plans for this coming fall? Thank you.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We're continuing with what we've done in the past here with the ferry service in Tsiigehtchic, so there's no change, going forward, right now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So the ferry will run right up till possibly December, then? Thank you.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. For the coming season, that is correct. We will be looking at all aspects of the ferry operation in the Beau-Del in the coming years. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta
Yes, thank you. No, I know the crews are getting very familiar with running through the fall, there, so I think it'll run smoothly. I know a lot of work has been done to the ferry this past spring, and I think a little more needs to be done next year, so that's great to hear, and I look forward to it. Thanks.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member is right. We've done a number of repairs on the ferry up there, and we'll be doing a little bit more work on it this coming season, this next summer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I recall previous discussions here, with the department, on federal funding for the assistance of marine site maintenance. Is there any progress on federal funding for that particular cost?
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Wally Schumann Hay River South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We've written a letter to the federal minister, voicing our concern on reinstating this funding for this initiative, and we'll continue to work with the federal government and the Minister, moving forward on this. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
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Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So we may expect some funding for next marine season? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Consideration in the Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters