Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, our department is working very closely with the contractor who takes care of Highway No. 7 — parts of the highway. We are working closely with the community; we are working closely with the contractors and thus would look at some of the plans to open that highway as quickly as possible. We are looking at the situation.

The weather is not on our side at this time, in terms of the type of weather we have to operate in; however, I will keep the Member informed in terms of how soon we could make it passable for people in the Nahendeh riding to drive over. Also, we ask the public to...

When we put in our operation system, the number of years we tested it — the old system.... Now we’re confident we have a new system that will be installed, that will be tested and that will ensure the public will be quite satisfied in terms of ensuring our revenues collected at the Yellowknife Airport will be satisfactory to the department. I will keep the Members informed and the House also informed as to the operation of the new system.

I thank the Member for his interest in improving transportation services across the Northwest Territories, especially with improving services at the airport, such as the territorial airport in Yellowknife. This includes the parking services. Over the years several different types of machinery operations and management systems have been placed at the Yellowknife airport and tested. Increased travel has caused us some difficulties in terms of finding a workable solution. I’d be happy to have some discussions with my colleagues and the Member as soon as possible to rectify this issue.

Mr. Speaker, I said before that the department is working closely with the contractor for that section of road. We do have resources there; we are looking at the situation. I’m waiting for the report from my officials to see the type of assessment and analysis and recommendations they would consider for this road. My understanding is that they are working on it as quickly as possible. At this time I would wait to give further direction as to what the Member’s asking for, in terms of emergency funding for that specific section of the road.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Member for his question on the highway emergency stoppage of our roads. Highway transportation, from our department and officials.... The safety of the travelling public is number one. When we deem there are safety issues that jeopardize the lives of people who travel on the highway, we will take great measures to close the highway, to fix it up, and to ensure those safety measures are in place on the highway and, when the highways are opened, that the public is aware of the safety measures in place for their own safety.

With the thawing out in the spring and...

As you informed the House, an RFP was issued out to the public. We’re happy to announce that Trafco, the contractor, has been awarded the contract. They’re working on it right now as we talk in terms of installing a new system for parking fees up at the Yellowknife Airport. I’m hoping that this new parking management system.... We expect it to be running this summer.

As we continue on with this project, I’ll be happy to inform the Members in the House in terms of when this system will be in operation for the public to start paying their parking fees at the Yellowknife Airport.

The Member is correct in terms of a study being conducted. The study is being conducted by ITI and [inaudible]. We’re in phase 2 of the study. I’ll be happy to share that with colleagues and Members once the study is released.

I also want to assure the Member that as Minister of Transportation, I’m looking at investment in all areas and locations across the Northwest Territories to ensure that safety and efficiency is our number one priority in our transportation system.

Mr. Speaker, since the 1980s the Territorial government has assumed responsibility for the highways. It’s always been our point and the point of this government that the responsibility for new highway infrastructure is the federal government’s responsibility, and this government is working very closely with the federal government in terms of seeking out new infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. I’m going to continue to lead that with the federal government. However, we are working on possible partnerships in terms of infrastructure that would benefit all people of the Northwest...

Mr. Speaker, I want to let the Member know it will be available within a couple of months. I will communicate more with my colleague Minister Bob McLeod. I will get back to the Member in terms of the exact decision regarding the date.

The Department of Transportation is working very closely with the Department of ITI, under the direction and leadership of Minister Bob McLeod, in putting this study together in terms of the Yellowknife Airport runway extension.

We are working with other stakeholders, such as the city, air carriers, Transport Canada in terms of seeing the benefits. And of course, I would be happy to sit down with Members once we have this study before us and have some discussion.

The Member may well be aware that I've tabled a document on runway licence studies. Certainly, there are comments in there about the...