Wally Schumann

As I alluded to earlier in my statement that the transportation of Canada inspector was in. He was there to look at the Tsiigehtchic ferry as we replaced the bottom of that ferry and put it in and do its seaworthiness which takes a couple days of trials and stuff. When they were finished that they moved on to the Peel ferry. The Peel ferry is in the process of going through its inspection as such and with the low water now expected after high water from breakup we now have five anchor points available to run this ferry. The original anchor points that showed up after breakup, there were only...

As I said, we took a look at this and we're moving ahead with the rehabilitation process. As far as the funding for the Buffalo River Bridge, that's already been approved by Infrastructure Canada and work planning is already currently underway to proceed with that project. A number of things that we are going to be doing under the rehabilitation process is the truss strengthening, replacement to the half of the deck on some of these bridges, and pier repair and painting as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are in plan to bring that forward through the process.

I would have to look into that question, if that was the reason for that. One thing I can tell the Assembly is that the cost of repairing and keeping the upkeep on the road system in the Northwest Territories is significant, and we have challenges with that on a daily basis. There is only so much infrastructure money to go around for the whole Northwest Territories and transportation has a serious need of upkeep on some of the infrastructure needs. I can look into what the Member is asking and get back to him on it.

Mr. Speaker, my understanding is the Hay River/Pine Point Bridge was submitted to Infrastructure Canada on May 27th as part of the bridge rehabilitation project. This particular project we expect to have approved by mid-June or end of June. Thank you.

I think it's a little premature to say the barge is going to be there shortly. I know that the sailing season historically leaves Hay River in late June. I'm not saying that is all this ice and stuff is going to melt on these landings, but this is definitely a federal jurisdiction. It is something that has been pointed out in the CTA report along with other issues across the North, and we will continue work with the federal government to see if we can reinstate this funding to make sure all the ports and harbours in the Northwest Territories have access.

That is something that hasn't come before me so I'm not aware of any people wanting to make claims against Transportation on the road conditions, but we continue to put signage up and everything in efforts to ensure that there's safe travel for everybody in the general public.

Additional maintenance work is planned for the complete section from the Dempster to the McPherson-Peel River section. We will be looking at all the signage and delineators as work continues this year on the widening of the highway.

Time permitting, I would gladly take up the Member's offer to take me out to the Dempster.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Reconstruction on the Dempster Highway has been in progress for the last several years, and the department has spent numerous amounts of money on widening and doing significant safety improvements on that section of the highway, but due to last year's excessive rain and poor weather conditions, weather hindered the reconstruction work and also the replacement of the delineators for the snow levels and safety stuff that the Member is talking about. The department will be installing these things in the coming construction season, when weather conditions are favourable...