Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we are -- we have applied for it. We haven't been -- yeah, it's in the process but that was our plan. Like, we're going to need that much over that amount of time so it is something that is important to the department and, you know, so we did apply. We're not approved. So I appreciate the Member's support to looking at Inuvik-Tuk Highway to respect some of the work that we need to get done on that road. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate that. I do wish the department luck in getting that money.

Is some of this work then that was -- that the Minister described, the 26-kilometer stretch, is that the area in which there has been noted ponded water along the ITH for the last while. I believe we went on a tour there and saw standing water and I just want to know if those issues are being addressed as they do affect the permafrost in the area. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. And Madam Chair, I have been on that road plenty of times, I just can't recall what kilometer but I'm going to ask my deputy minister Steve Loutitt if he knows the location on where the Member's talking about. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy Minister Loutitt.

Thank you. Member.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, really glad to hear that and hear that the department is looking at the future of the Inuvik to Tuk Highway and hope that will be some potential for work to be looked at while the fibre optic line is being installed along that highway. For example, if it is being buried, what is being done to ensure that the integrity of the road is not being compromised in that. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that is definitely something that we could look at and keep that in mind as we look at the fibre line going in on the highway and ensure that we have discussions with the appropriate department to ensure road safety. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm looking and noting that there is funding in here for Highway 8 reconstruction which is the Dempster Highway, I believe. Again, a very -- I don't want to say treacherous but definitely one of our problem stretches of highway. Beautiful area, lots of opportunities for tourism and as well an integral transportation route for the Chair's own area.

So my questions are what is that work necessarily entailing and is this just sort of keeping up with the status quo or are we actually doing any sort of rebuilding or significant work on the Dempster this year. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm really happy to hear that the Member's very interested in Dempster Highway as the Chair and I are also very interested in the Dempster Highway.

In terms of getting to the question, we have about $22.5 million that will be invested in reconstruction, rehabilitation of Highway 8 from 2019 to 2023-2024. And this includes widening, rehab, installation of corrugated steel pipe culverts, gravel resurfacing, production and stockpile of crush aggregate material, which is used in future improvements. In other words, Madam Chair, we spend about $4.5 million each year. Thank you.

Thank you. Member.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I'm really pleased and congratulations to the department for the funding on the Frank Channel Bridge, not that I think the Government of Canada could have left us any further in the lurch as it was going to be up in its useful life within the next year.

Can the Minister speak to how much money -- I know maybe not specifics but sort of what level of effort will be made on the Frank Channel bridge in the first year of the project. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the replacement of this bridge is very critical to the transportation, especially people coming in and out of Yellowknife.

The GNWT has secured about $37.5 million under the Transport Canada's National Trade Corridors Fund. So, you know, right now we need to replace the bridge. I mean, we've got reduced speed limit across the bridge and I just really encourage people to continue to follow that -- the kilometer that we've identified when crossing the bridge.

Some of the work that's planned for 2022-2023 is contractor mobilization, site preparation, road realignment, embankment, construction. Also some granular material production, procurement of steel piping, steel fabrication. So Madam Chair, there is work that's being done as well. Also we have an agreement with the Tlicho, you know, going forward in these projects. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Madam Chair. That's actually quite a bit to get going and get started on so I'm really happy to hear it's not going to be sort of sitting in studies and delayed for a while like some of our other projects end up being so hopefully we won't see the carryovers that everybody gets super excited about.

I guess I just wanted to ask a little bit about that relationship with the Tlicho. While I'm all in support of that happening, I can't imagine that the entire work package would be going under that infrastructure agreement. Is there a potential or will there be packages issued out for open tender. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, that's a really good question. I want to ensure that, you know, we're consistent in some of our messaging but we are working with Tlicho, and I'm just going to ask David -- Mr. Moore to speak a little further in terms of what's our partnership like because he's on the ground ensuring that we work with this agreement. Thank you, Madam Chair.