This is page numbers 673-724 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 thanks.

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Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I travelled back home this past week and drove back home, I couldn’t help but notice, you know, the amount of dust on our Dempster Highway. Mr. Speaker, usually about this time the department starts preparing to put down calcium on the roads and you know have dust control, Mr. Speaker. Many times it gets very dangerous on the highway especially when you're passing tractor trailers or equipment like this. Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to ask the Minister of Transportation, when will the crews start putting calcium down on the Dempster Highway? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member is well aware, I guess this time of year is our routine maintenance and the crews are getting out there and doing all the routine stuff that's done in the springtime from culvert thawing to, you know, straightening the signs and other stuff. I suspect that the department will be doing the application of calcium in the short order that is coming up here. You know road safety is the number one importance to us, so I can double check on that and get back to the Member exactly when it will be. Just putting that out. Thank you.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, you know talking to a number of equipment operators, you know, especially when they first starting putting this application down, you know, when the calcium is laid down it's always best to grade the road at the same time that way it soaks right into the road 'cause if you just lay it over the top, you know once we get a large amount of rain it usually runs off. So will the Minister ensure that when the crews do work on the highway that that is practiced. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I'll have to check with the department if that's exactly how we apply this and grade the roads at the same time, but if that is the case we will ensure that's how it's done.

Frederick Blake Jr.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Mr. Speaker, you know the department is doing a great job. I see a lot of resurfacing on the Dempster Highway over the last couple of weeks here. You know, I'd just like to ask the Minister, will the Minister ensure that the calcium is laid down by the end of session here?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

I'm not sure if I could commit to have that done by end of session. I'll have to check with the department and see when we will be applying that.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a couple of follow-up questions for the Minister of Transportation regarding the ferry services. Mr. Speaker, the Minister made a commitment in this House to provide me of the cost analysis of what the two extra hours of ferry operations would be. Unfortunately, I did not ask for a date for getting that information. Mr. Speaker, could the Minister commit to having this information to provide to me by the end of June 24th.Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot commit to having it to the Member by June 24th, but I will commit to the Member to have it to him by end of session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. Can I get a clarification if it's session, 'cause we can go on for a while, or at the end of this sitting? Thank you. Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

By the end of this session, June 29th.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

I thank the Minister for the commitment. I am assuming we're talking about the sitting at the end of this June! I think that's what I heard. Mr. Speaker, the Minister made a commitment to provide me the information about the cost for operating the ferries in the Northwest Territories; however, again I asked for the return date. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit to having this information to provide to me by the end of this sitting?

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, we will commit to having that to the Member by June 29th. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for his answer. So I guess at the end of sitting, so we can confirm is the 29th, and you're going to get it to me by that date? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Yes, I will get it to the Member by June 29th, end of business day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Finance. I believe public confidence in oversight of the sole source contracts might be improved if reports for the last two fiscal years, that's 2014-15 and 2015-16, were produced and posted to the website. Could the Minister make a commitment to produce these reports as soon as possible? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Minister of Finance.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding is we produce those every year and I will make a commitment to the Member that we will share those. Thank you.

Julie Green

Julie Green Yellowknife Centre

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the Finance Minister for that answer. I would just like to understand how and when this information will be shared. Mahsi.

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. These are normally produced at the end of each fiscal year and I believe these reports are also tabled. I will confirm that and share that information with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Jackson Lafferty

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.