Tom Beaulieu

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We agree that’s the right program to do exactly what the Member is requesting. We encourage the community to put in an access road proposal to pay to keep that road open. We can have the local guys talk to the leadership over there, wherever we are going to receive a proposal from, to see if they could obtain that proposal from them for using the access road money to keep that road open.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize some individuals from Tu Nedhe today. First, I would like to recognize our interpreters that have been interpreting all week here. There is a new interpreter in there, Dennis Drygeese from Lutselk’e and, of course, also the veteran interpreter, Tommy Unka from Fort Resolution. Also, we have two Pages from Lutselk’e, Dacho Poole and Johnny Yassie, and their chaperone, Jordan Michel. I am not sure if he is here today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The community of Tuktoyaktuk has been looking at this deep water port for some time. Of course, as the highway to Tuktoyaktuk is getting close to completion, there’s more interest in a deep water port. It’s another viable transportation method, so that’s certainly something we would participate in.

In as far as what we can do from using our highway and so on, deep water ports are a federal responsibility and that’s where it will probably remain for now. However, whatever we can do as a department to assist, we’ll be there.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The French language services, the signs were put up for safety reasons. Anywhere where we felt there were potential safety-related issues we put up signs in both languages to ensure that it was understood by all the travelling public. The majority of that money, we provide French services, as well, in addition to that, and that was salary and a little bit of travel. So we thought it was well spent.

Highway emergency learning protocol is something that we work with the departments of Municipal and Community Affairs and Health and Social Services. We’re going to continue...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are maintaining Highway No. 7. We’re hoping that all of the areas that were identified as very bad spots are going to be attended to sooner rather than later, although our concentration is going to be in around fixing that highway and finishing the chipseal to Liard from BC, from Liard over to Nahanni, and there will be lots of BCP money going in there.

Other areas where there are soft spots – and it was a major concern when we were in Fort Liard, where it’s very bad and we’re aware of it – the guys and the department from Simpson seem very aware of it so we will be...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do.

Of course, we’re continuing the maintenance work on the highway and making Highway No. 7 as passable as possible. We’re always striving to improve that road. So, with this money we’re also going to improve any areas where there have been problems. The people know exactly which areas are problems, and for the first package of work that we intend to do we intend to spend an additional $12 million over the next four years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has quietly spent $12 million on Highway No. 7 to date.

---Laughter

For this coming year, we have $3 million in the capital plan and we’re going to concentrate on that serious area that the Member referred to, kilometres 169 to 170. We’re fixing that area. A lot of that money is going to go to strengthening the road from Liard to approximately where the Nahanni Butte turnoff is, and also there’s some finishing work still to be completed between Liard and the BC border. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will look at that solution. We will have our engineers… I suppose it will have to do with the city, also. The engineers and the city will take a look at that, the flashing light.

Yes, we do.