Mr. Speaker, transportation infrastructure and services are important to our residents, communities, businesses and our future.  I am pleased to provide an update on three key highway corridor initiatives in progress in the NWT.

In June, the Department tabled Connecting Us, a 25-year Transportation Strategy focusing on all modes of transportation in the NWT and highlighting our transportation challenges and opportunities.

YELLOWKNIFE (October 8, 2015) – The groundbreaking ceremony for the new state-of-the-art Stanton Territorial Hospital represents the beginning of the largest infrastructure project in the Northwest Territories history that will provide health care service for future generations of residents.

Mr. Speaker, in June 2015 the Department of Transportation tabled our multi-modal Transportation Strategy, entitled “Connecting Us”.  The Strategy defines the challenges and opportunities related to improving road, air, marine and rail services for residents, communities and businesses across the NWT over the next 25 years.  I am pleased to report that the Department is implementing the updated Transportation Strategy and making substantial progress under the three key strategic initiatives:  Strengthening Connections; Capturing Opportunities; and Embracing Innovation.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to provide additional information to supplement my responses given during Oral Question Period on September 29, 2015 regarding dredging the Port of Hay River.  The Department of Transportation has received a response from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to our most recent letter requesting dredging and federal marine facility maintenance. 

The Government of the Northwest Territories is keenly aware of the critical need to restore the East Channel of the Hay River and its approaches from Great Slave Lake back to safe marine navigating conditions. 

The 2014/2015 Public Works and Services Energy Conservation Projects Annual Report published in June 2015, is both a retrospective of what the Government of the NWT has achieved since annual reporting first began, and an overview of important changes we have made to support this work going forward.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 24, 2015) – The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) is currently reviewing a claim for an additional $32 million made by EGT Northwind, the project company constructing the Inuvik Tuktoyaktuk Highway. The claim amount has not yet been substantiated or verified by the GNWT.

YELLOWKNIFE (August 28, 2015) - Minister of Transportation Tom Beaulieu announced today that residents of the NWT can now sign up to receive reminders regarding their driver and motor vehicle services by text message on their cellphones.

YELLOWKNIFE (August 21, 2015) – The renewal of the Stanton Territorial Hospital moves closer to reality with the announcement today by Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger, that Boreal Health Partnership (BHP) has been selected as the Preferred Proponent, pursuant to the GNWT’s Request for Proposals for the project.

The GNWT and BHP will be working together to finalize the Project Agreement and start the preparatory work required before construction can begin later this Fall.

Yellowknife, le 18 août 2015 – Le feu ZF-014 qui sévit près du lac Reid pose toujours un danger. Le GTNO prend toutes les mesures nécessaires pour éteindre le feu et protéger la population. Les messages ci-dessous sont des mises à jour provenant de diverses agences gouvernementales qui œuvrent contre cet incendie de forêt.

La prochaine mise à jour de sécurité publique sera émise le vendredi 21 août 2015, à moins que l’incendie autour du lac Reid prenne sérieusement de l’ampleur entre-temps.

Yellowknife, le 13 août 2015 – Le feu ZF-014 qui sévit près du lac Reid pose toujours un danger. Le GTNO prend toutes les mesures nécessaires pour éteindre le feu et protéger la population. Les messages ci-dessous sont des mises à jour provenant de diverses agences gouvernementales qui œuvrent contre cet incendie de forêt.

La prochaine mise à jour de sécurité publique sera émise le lundi 17 août 2015, à moins que l’incendie autour du lac Reid prenne sérieusement de l’ampleur entre-temps.