Julie Green

Thank you, Mr. Chair. How does the structure of this road compare to the other roads? I am trying to find a rationale for the volume of traffic, the condition it is in, and why it gets so little money compared to the overall highway budget. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. What concerns me is that the amount of money that is allocated to this road is disproportionate to the amount of use this road gets. Why does Highway No. 3 not get more money, considering that it holds 40 per cent of the territory's vehicle traffic? Thank you.

That is correct. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I have some questions that follow on from my Member's statement and the questions and answers earlier today. My questions have to do with how the allocation of money to Highway No. 3 is determined.

It looks like there are two different pots. There is the New Building Canada pot, which is $18 million over four years ending in 2019, and then there is, let us say, own-source money for structural rehab and chipseal, which comes from the GNWT. I guess I will just start by saying: is that correct? There are the two streams of money for maintenance on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the NWT Housing Corporation won't build additional housing without additional operations and maintenance money. Has the Department of Infrastructure considered this approach? What is the point of pouring money into new roads like the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway and the Whati road where there obviously isn't enough money for maintenance? Mahsi.

Let's call it an infrastructure deficit. The question is still: what are you going to do about it?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my constituent Nalini Naidoo. It is through the generosity of the Naidoo family, the MS Naidoo Foundation that helps to support the Northern Youth Abroad program.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the Minister's willingness to take it back to his department. I think that we know that climate change is real in the North. This is an example of how real it is, and I think it would be informative for motorists to know that this is what climate change looks like.

My last area is about operations and maintenance money for the new roads, the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway and the Whati road. Are those costs factored into the road? We are saying we need $67 million for the road to Whati. Does that include maintenance money, or is there a segment of the budget...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand what the Minister is saying. I want to move on to managing expectations. That seems to be one of the major issues with this road. There is no write-up about it in Spectacular NWT. There is nothing that prepares the driver for the condition of this road until they are driving this road. Is there something more the Minister can do to communicate the condition of the road to the people who are using it who are coming to the road for the first time? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do not know what evidence the Minister has, and I am interested in knowing that money will not make a difference to this road. That is not the information that I have. What evidence does he have that money will not make a difference? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This section of highway has 40 per cent of the traffic. Is it getting 40 per cent of the rebuilding money? Thank you.