This is page numbers 6353 - 6412 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 3rd 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 assembly.

Topics

Consideration In 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

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm just trying to find it here. Community access road.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Minister McLeod.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The GNWT highway network is expected twice yearly to confirm the status and condition of the network. The condition reports, along with information from daily operation and maintenance work and inspections, inform the development of Infrastructure's 20-year needs assessment and assist with the prioritization of projects proposed for capital investment across the GNWT. Over the past five years, surface and drainage improvements have been completed on the two highways totalling $1.27 million, and I think there was a question on the Sambaa K'e access road, as well.

The priority and continued investment in access roads is identified in the department of infrastructure transportation strategy 2020 as well as within the mandate of the 18th Assembly. New access roads, such as completed Canyon Creek access road and the proposed Mount Gaudet access road, are an example of recent development towards a broader strategy towards developing the Mackenzie Valley highway.

With respect to Sambaa K'e access road, since March 2019, the Department of Infrastructure has been working with the community of Sambaa K'e to reduce the grade on Paradise Hill to the Sambaa K'e access road through an annual O and M. I understand they stockpile material onsite so they're within the burn area. It could be between kilometres 70 and 100. It could be accessed. That's some of the information that we have there, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Would you like to add something?

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

We're good.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

In a community access road improvement, what are the projects that we are looking at? Are there other projects out there besides that? I know there are other access roads, but I'm just trying to figure out what access roads there are, because I know in Nahanni Butte, they are trying to straighten out that road, and they're working with a private contractor, another company, but also with the department in trying to do some training on that. I want to understand if that was part of this access program? Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister McLeod.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My understanding is the Behchoko access road and the Fort Liard access road are the two. Thank you.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Mr. Thompson.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. The communities of Jean Marie and Nahanni Butte, if there's still work to be done, do they work with the regional office or do they have to make a submission because they're trying to get some work done? I know we've put some money into it already, and I appreciate that. What is their process? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.

Consideration In 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

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Member's question is kind of vague. Is he trying to build the whole thing, or for the Government of the Northwest Territories, what we're doing to work with these people? Back to the Nahanni Butte access road, we were working very closely with the community with them on capital improvements through the federal GNWT funding arrangements highlighted above. The department is also working with the private sector, the community, the Mine Training Society, and Aurora College to implement the heavy equipment operation training program this year.

The department will be committing approximately 10,000 cubic metres of granular material and assisting with the supervision of construction throughout the training portion through this partnership, widening, corner realignment, construction, multi-pullouts to help facilitate the increased traffic expected on the winter road, building community capacity and improve the condition of the access road, and the Mine Training Society, NorZink, Beaver Enterprises, and the community are working together to cover the costs, such as fuels, instructors' costs, and wages for training. So we are doing a significant amount with the community of Nahanni Butte on their access road, and the Member has already commented on what Sambaa K'e is doing.

The biggest thing, I think, to remember in this conversation is part of our 20-, 25-year transportation strategy. These things were not identified as priorities when we went out and consulted with the residents of the Northwest Territories, but we continued to work with both Aboriginal groups and these communities to help develop these access roads. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. I appreciate the Minister for providing that information. In regard to Jean Marie, we are not looking at a full-access road. What they are asking for is a number of locations. Is it something that they can use capital with, or is there funding out there aside from what is in this Infrastructure budget? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have committed some cap funding and worked with the community on what they are doing with their access road, particularly around that Nun Hill situation and the burn area that was rough for a number farmers. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Mr. Thompson.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Shane Thompson

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you. That was Sambaa K'e. I apologize if I misspoke. I was talking about Jean Marie River. Sorry. They were looking at a couple of sections that need to be enhanced. I know the government spent some quality money on it this past year, but they are looking at a couple of other spots. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Schumann.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

August 22nd, 2019

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Wally Schumann

Wally Schumann Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Chair. From 2014-2019, we actually did embankment and surface improvements, drainage improvements. They have been completed. We spent $728,000 doing that. In 2019-2020, we worked with Jean Marie and did additional embankment and surface improvement for $310,000. So we continue to work with the communities and, as funds become available, we will continue to work with them. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister Schumann. Next, we have Mr. McNeely.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Daniel McNeely

Daniel McNeely Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to comment on pages 41 and 42, the project listing. I see, as identified on there, there are a number of both government and joint program funding. I am glad to see that the Department of Finance, with the appropriate department, in this case Infrastructure, worked conjointly to access and exhaust as many options of financing as possible. In the spirit of partnerships and collaboration, as our Premier mentioned here, it is identified here on page 42 with the recent announcement between this government and the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated to pursue jointly the environmental assessment for the Mackenzie Valley Highway, so I am glad to see and be part of the upcoming work for this capital. Thank you.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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The Chair

The Chair Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Minister McLeod.

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Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Member's comments. There is a lot of work that needs to be done to get some of these projects to the shovel-in-the-ground stages, but we will continue to work with the Aboriginal governments and the people who that affects the most. Thank you, Mr. Chair.