Yellowknife (May 21/04) - Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew had a little difficulty finding the blast site, but the explosion that launched the final leg of Highway No.3 improvements went off without a hitch.

The four-term MP and territorial Transportation Minister Michael McLeod were on hand yesterday to press the ignition switch on 12,000 kilograms of dynamite, marking the beginning of the end on completing the final stretch of new road for Highway 3 between Yellowknife and Rae-Edzo.

The federal government set aside $6.3 million towards rebuilding the final 30 kilometres of road last fall.

Blondin-Andrew promised there will be more funding announcements to come for the North, although the federal government wants to hold off on handing them out until after the next federal election, so as not to appear "insincere" this close to an election call.

There has been a flood of federal funding announcements across the country in recent weeks. Blondin-Andrew predicts Prime Minister Paul Martin will drop the writ either Sunday or Monday.

"There is a little bit of concern that we're announcing too much money just before an election," said Blondin-Andrew.

"Believe me, there is a lot more that would be announced, but we're not doing it for that very reason."