Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, they are sometimes quite stable but last year and this year as well, but last year in particular was the first year where knowing of the low water levels and knowing also that there had been reductions even at that point in the amount of barging that came up and the year previous, the department expected and was correct in expecting that there it would need to do some additional work. So some of the things that led to much higher than usual budgeting was that there was additional flooding being used on the portages, additional flooding on all crossings in order to bring up the amount of load bearing that was available. There was widening done which, of course, takes more time, more staffing, more hours. And also some work done -- work that gets done regularly to remove trees along the pathway but with some of the wildfires, there was additional work that needed to be done to clear the areas as well as additional work that needed to be done more than just waiting year over year and doing a cycle but to actually widen the road, again, knowing there's likely to be larger trucks, more trucks, coming through. In addition, there was increased inspection being done so more staff are being put -- more time being dedicated to having folks on the roadway. And that -- well, I guess I'll stop it there, Mr. Chair. Thank you.
Caroline Wawzonek on Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 10th, 2025. See this statement in context.
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Second Reading Of Bills
February 10th, 2025
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