Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I’m glad that the Minister wants to rise to the challenge and provide a written commitment. I’d like to see that, and with that I would recommend to my colleagues that with their support that I defer consideration of the Department of Transportation for another day until I get that written commitment from the department so I can continue to make the case once again that I get lots of money for Highway No. 7, but they never spend it. They’re always waiting until the end of the season, and that’s all I’m doing here today. I’m tired of hearing that yes, you’ll...

I find it incomprehensible that this government does not know about the needs of Highway No. 7. I have been up here for nine years. In the 2012-13 infrastructure budget there is zero dollars allocated to Highway No. 7 and it collapses every spring and that is around the corner. I would like to ask this government what is their plan for Highway No. 7 when it comes to infrastructure investment. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak about the lack of attention to Highway No. 7 once again. As you know, the Inuvik-Tuk highway is a major item of business for the 17th Legislative Assembly. The federal government has told Canadians this project will fulfill the dream of uniting our country from coast to coast to coast. It has a budget of about $150 million over five years for this project. The GNWT will also spend a share on this highway, but the final costs and economic benefits continue to remain unknown.

Meanwhile, the Liard Highway, Highway No. 7, doesn’t seem to be...

With that, I don’t know; I would urge my committee members, if I can get their support, to defer this item until later.

I made the case that there is no money, I already know that. What I’m asking is in O and M budget we have to take some planning for this coming spring thaw and potential collapse of Highway No. 7 for the travelling public. I was trying to get at what’s being allocated within the Transportation budget and what exactly is the plan in the interim on this interim budget.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Committee Report 1-17(2), Tabled Document 1-17(2), Interim Appropriation 2012-2013, Tabled Document 2-17(2) and Tabled Document 3-17(2).

Mr. Speaker, I know that when there is will and desire by the Cabinet to spend extra money, they can certainly come up with the money. I would like to ask the Finance Minister when is Highway No. 7 being discussed at the Cabinet table. Who represents my constituency at the Cabinet table when this investment is required? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on my Member’s statement on the lack of attention by this government and the federal government on Highway No. 7. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance. I know that we have a federal engagement strategy and it is a credit to the northern region where the Inuvik-Tuk highway is on the Prime Minister’s vocabulary. I sure would like to have Highway No. 7 have the same attention as well. I would like to ask the Minister of Finance, when they are having discussions about infrastructure and highways at the federal level, is he willing to bring...

I think these speak to the existing contracts that are there that need to carry out for the next three or four months, I believe. I’m not satisfied unless I get the answer to exactly what’s going to be done about Highway No. 7 and the spring thaw this coming spring.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I was just speaking earlier in the House about the efforts of Highway No. 7 and part of this interim appropriation. I’d like to know what’s being appropriated for the maintenance of Highway No. 7 for this coming fiscal year. Like I indicated is the concern, is that we cannot wait until our full budget in May/June because it’s typical that April or May is when our highway collapses. I’d like to know what’s being appropriated from our O and M budget for the efforts of Highway No. 7 and the safety of our travelling public in the Nahendeh riding.