Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize recently re-elected Chief Ernest Betsina. He is also a fellow hockey player. Welcome to the Chamber. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize Chief Ernest Betsina. He is the chief of one of the communities that I represent, Ndilo. Thank you.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Yellowknife North constituent and long-time Yellowknife YK1 board member, Al Short. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the Inuvialuktun interpreter and constituent from Ulukhaktok, Ms. Annie Goose, and also the mayor of Paulatuk, Ray Ruben. You will see them around Yellowknife. Also, Chief Ernest Betsina. They are long-time high school buddies, and it is good to see them hanging out, at the levels that they are, and working together. Welcome to the both of you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, acknowledgments. Item 8, oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past summer I had to opportunity to travel on about 92 per cent of the all-weather roads in the southern part of the NWT. This works out to be about 1,155 kilometers. Some of the roads were in great shape, better than others. As I traveled, I noticed a number of concerns I would like to address with the Minister for Infrastructure today.

Mr. Speaker, on Highway No. 1, from approximately kilometre 205 to 220, I noticed that the staff from Fort Providence were doing their regular maintenance this section of the chipseal. It is the last section of chipseal before it merges into the gravel section of the highway. I have to give them credit. They did a great job. Unfortunately, three days later as I came across the section again, it was in bad shape. It was very rough, to say the least, and I have heard that from a number of my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please advise this House what the department is going to do with this section of road? Are they going to replace it with this EZ Street product that is on Highway No. 3, redo the chipseal, or return it back to gravel? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Minister for Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the Member for noticing the efforts the department has put into the system across the Northwest Territories. However, as the Member said, this is a very difficult section of highway. We continue to monitor it and work on it. The short-term maintenance that we are doing on it, trying to improve this thing, is starting to pay off, but that is not a long-term fix. We are going to continue to look at doing that. The department will be undertaking a multi-year rehabilitation on this part of the road for this project, to improve the drainage in particular in that area and also widen and strengthen the existing grade.

Moving forward, though, in 2018-2019, we are going to continue to spend $3.5 million on Highway No. 1 to widen and reconstruct and improve drainage and do these sorts of things on kilometer 207 to 212, and we will continue to do that. We could also take up the Member's comments and look at maybe reverting this back to gravel until we can get the reconstruction and improvements required that can be able to have chipseal that would last for a longer term.

He made mention to a test section on this section of highway. We are also monitoring this section -- it is actually called Allcrete -- to determine if this new form of road stabilization could be something that we could use in the long term to find a solution to that section.

I thank the Minister for that information. My residents will surely enjoy that. Mr. Speaker, as I was driving on this highway, close to Bouvier Creek there is a sign that says "turn," and then, as you are turning, there is another sign that says "slow down to 70 km/hr." We are getting used to it, but a lot of tourists are not. Will the Minister look at this and actually revert the signs to show that you have to slow down as you are turning?

Thank you for bringing that to my attention. We will have the department have a look at this thing and make sure it is meeting the Transportation Association of Canada signage standards, because there is a set of standards that are laid out there for placement of signs, and we will make sure that this is reflected on where they are posted on the highway.

Mr. Speaker, the department conducts brushing across the system on a cycled basis, and we usually do one third of the system every year. Last year, we did 1,300 hectares of brushing, mulching, and mowing, and this was completed across the system. We continue to do that on an annual basis, and we will continue that work moving forward.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. I hope he can still share it with us so that we can help our residents know what is going on. The last part of the Highway No. 1 is the section to Wrigley. There are a number of spots that have limited line of sight there. As well, there are some nice little bits of roller coaster rides. If you want to go on a roller coaster ride, you can go on that road to Wrigley. You guys, we could switch roads, I can tell you that. Can the Minister please advise us what the department is going to do with those sections of roads that are safety issues? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I said, we do probably one third of the complete system annually, on an annual basis. This improves sight lines, but also improves drainage along the whole system. I know Highway No. 1 on that particular section of highway going to Wrigley; most of it was mowed this year, so if the Member can actually sit down with me and give me some specifics on sight lines of concern, I can certainly have the department look into it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. As I pointed out in my statement, since the launch of the Yellowknife street outreach program, there has been a noticeable improvement in conditions downtown, not to mention a reduction in the costly use of both ambulance and hospital services. The city has announced its intention to continue the R.I.D.E. program while the new sobering centre location is renovated and opened. Can the Minister provide us an update on the new sobering centre? Thank you.

Masi. Minister of Health and Social Services.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the Member indicated, we have a long-term solution for the sobering centre here in Yellowknife. The building does have to go through some renovations. On September 25th the Yellowknife City Council actually approved a proposal for the use of the new building for the sobering centre and a day shelter. This proposal allows us to actually continue our planning for the number of renovations that are required on that site. The department and the city are actively working with partners right now to find interim location while renovations are completed. In order to ensure that no opportunities are missed, we are working with the city right now to issue a public appeal for potential space that could accommodate the program in the short term.

Of course, I look forward to hearing the results of that call for interest. As I mentioned, the City of Yellowknife has stepped up and put their dollars behind the effort to reduce drunkenness and help people in need. It is worth knowing that analysis shows that the majority of people being served actually come from places other than Yellowknife, so this is truly a pan-territorial problem, and yet it is the Yellowknife ratepayers who are facing the tax hike this year to help pay for these services. My question for the Minister is whether the GNWT will increase its contribution to the operation and delivery of the street outreach program where it is a territorial program.

Mr. Speaker, we are committing significant funds to the operation of a sobering centre here in Yellowknife as well as the day shelter, recognizing that, yes, many of the individuals who are utilizing those programs have moved to Yellowknife from different locations. Yellowknife is the home for many of those people now, and many of them have moved from different locations. We are contributing significant dollars, which is now part of our core funding, moving forward.