SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - "A bog with the consistency of clam chowder; A war zone."

Those are some of the descriptive terms Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche used for the condition of Highway 7 on the opening day of the fifth session of the 16th assembly.

Menicoche was challenging Transportation Minister Michael McLeod to provide time-tables on either reconstruction or repair of the highway connecting Fort Liard and Fort Simpson to British Columbia.

"After two years of the largest capital budget ever, I hope that the Department of Transportation would be able to achieve great things for Highway 7," said Menicoche.

He said a trucking company had stopped operating on the route due to frequent closures and poor conditions, leaving one company carrying goods to Liard.

Having recently visited with the residents of the Nahendeh riding, the transportation minister replied he had heard most of these concerns first hand and that the road needs to be reconstructed but could not offer dates on when this might occur.

"The challenge is that there has been excessive rainfall in that area. It has contributed to eroding, it has contributed to culvert failures, flooding, things of that nature and it has forced us to redirect our efforts from reconstruction on a portion of the road that has been targeted to trying to deal with some of the crisis situations that are developing," replied McLeod.

E-petition pilot program

As of Oct. 19, Northwest Territories residents can set up and sign petitions to the legislative assembly online.

Premier Floyd Roland said the e-petition program is meant to make it easier for residents to raise their concerns with those elected to represent them.

Petitions can be set up and signed on the legislative assembly's website.

The pilot project ends in June, at which point its effectiveness will be reviewed.

Rural streetlights

Tu Nedhe MLA Tom Beaulieu sought confirmation from Michael McLeod, the minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board, that more streetlights would be installed in remote Northern communities which will soon be without daylight.

"I can't walk around much later than 6 p.m. in some of the areas of Lutsel K'e and Fort Res because of darkness," said Beaulieu. "I understand that at one time the NWT Power Corporation used to install lights on the poles and then charge the municipality for the kilowatt usage."

McLeod responded that when communities revise their capital plans each fall, they can list lighting as a priority.

Medical travel office

Great Slave MLA Glen Abernethy wants the medical travel office at the Stanton Territorial Hospital re-opened.

"Up until now the Medical Travel Office has been located in Stanton on the main floor directly across from the intake booths, which has been a great location, especially for individuals coming in from out of town, from the small communities, the grannies from Nahanni who wish to have actual communication with the medical travel office," said Abernethy. "Now it's gone. Now we've moved it behind locked doors, security windows, and there is no face to face contact whatsoever. Now it's all phone and e-mail."

Abernethy asked the health minister whether a transition plan had been implemented to help those people who need face to face communication.

Health Minister Sandy Lee said she'd convey his concerns to those running Stanton Territorial Hospital and return to him with a response.

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