I am pleased to note that the department is currently working on two other highway infrastructure projects in the South Slave. In 2015-2016, the department completed improvements to Highway No. 2 between Hay River and Enterprise, for approximately $3 million. Over the next several years, the department will reconstruct and chip seal up to 34 kilometre of Highway No. 6 to Fort Resolution, with an estimated value of $17 million. In the meantime, the department continues to apply regular maintenance measures across all highways.

The first bundle of projects will invest $14 million in improvements to Highway No. 1. Over the next four years, the department will be working to widen and reconstruct some sections of the highway from Kilometres 375 to 395, and Kilometres 207 to 212. That work includes geometric, structural, and drainage improvements; grade widening; culvert replacement; and applying chipseal. Under the second bundle of Building Canada Plan projects, the department is seeking to rehabilitate or replace bridges, including the Hay River and Pine Point Bridges, and the Buffalo River Bridge in the South Slave region.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Transportation undertakes long-term functional planning to determine how to gain the best value of limited resources. Highway reconstruction requirements are also prioritized to ensure that highways are safe for the travelling public. When drafting the proposals for bundle one, the priority scope and work plan for Highway No. 1 was from Kilometres 187 to 690 and was based on functional planning outcomes. Priority will be given to the sections of the deteriorating highway between Kilometres 207 and 230, and between Kilometres 375 and 395, to address critical needs and ensure public safety. At present, no major improvement work is scheduled between Enterprise and the Alberta border. Reconstruction and widening work between the Kilometre 15 and Kilometre 18 was completed in 2013 under the previous Building Canada Plan. The department continues to deliver regular maintenance as required on that section of highway, and Highway No. 1 between Enterprise and Alberta is paved. The department will provide additional investment in the highway as rehabilitation requirements arise.

As I previously said, we will be updating our plan in April 2016 of this year and we will be talking to all communities and people in the Northwest Territories.

Environment and Natural Resources will assist in developing the project proposals for limited hazards and risk mitigation work for non-critical communities and areas, including the allocation of limited financial support depending on community priorities and available-to-ENR resources. We also do reach out to the general public and communities through our website and the

nwtfire.com Facebook page

ENR will be reviewing these plans coming beginning this April. Risk assessment and fieldwork will commence thereafter. The new plans will be redeveloped and based on existing plans and new data inputs. All plans will be completed by Environment and Natural Resources, and assistance of the affected communities and other departments will begin thereafter with the GNWT.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Environment and Natural Resources has a program called FireSmart adopted in the Northwest Territories with risk management strategies, and it includes in these mitigating wildfire threats according to the following seven disciplines: fuel management, education, legislation, development, planning, and training. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I will definitely be talking to the departments I related to this issue and we can get back to the Member on how we're going to proceed on that.

I'd like to reassure the Member that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will work with the Department of Health to make sure that the contaminants, if they're coming into the food system, will be addressed through both departments.