Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Today, I would like to do my Member's statement on DOT's Community Access Road program. Mr. Speaker, the Community Access Road Program currently has about $1 million for distribution to the communities. I realize that application for this program runs about $1.4 million; however, I feel that the budget should be increased to $1.5 million for the next fiscal year, then increased to $2 million the following fiscal year. The new budget for this program should be set at $2 million moving forward.
The Community Access Road Program is a very good program in our small communities where little road infrastructure exists. It is a program that is used each year to employ a few people in the small communities. As I have said many times, we need to put our people in the small communities to work.
Mr. Speaker, it is well documented that there is a clear correlation between employment and the health of our citizens. When people are working, they are healthier and happier. Mr. Speaker, it is a well-known fact that, as income goes up, health and social issues go down. We all know the high costs of poor health and the high costs of social issues on education, justice and housing.
The Access Road Program is used by the communities to access traditional culture areas near their communities so it also continues to pay dividends for years as it supports people to be out in the land, doing something productive and healthy.
Mr. Speaker, I can go on and on about the benefit of this program. However, I would rather ask the question to the Minister of DOT about his initiatives on this program moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.