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Tlicho needs roads

Rae-Edzo
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 08/06) - The chief of Behchoko wants Premier Joe Handley put his $50 million extension proposal for the Ingraham Trail into Tlicho roads instead.

Last month, in a speech to business leaders, Handley proposed extending the road 50 kilometres, bypassing a troublesome section of the winter road to the Barrens.

But Highway 3 and communities in the Tli Cho have more pressing infrastructure needs, Chief Leon Lafferty said. "He's asking aboriginal people, 'please give me your money, and I'll spend it in my backyard,'" Lafferty said, urging instead the construction of all-weather roads to Whati and Gameti.

Handley lives off the Ingraham Trail.

Lafferty also complained about the condition of Highway 3. While work is done on the road, he said, it's still rife with potholes.

But transport department spokesman Bob Kelly said his department has spent tens of millions of dollars on upgrades for Highway 3 over the past few years.

Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty said all-weather roads to Whati and Gameti would help boost mining industries in the Tlicho and help reduce the cost of living.

The government should make infrastructure for the communities a priority, he said.

"We tend to focus on industry, but the roads in the communities are bad as it is," Jackson Lafferty said.

He's also concerned climate change will mean the winter road seasons will be shorter and the roads will carry fewer heavy loads.

Michael Conway, the transport department's regional superintendent for North Slave, said a transportation study for the Tlicho is looking at the possibility of realigning winter roads in the region. The winter roads pass mostly over lakes. By shifting them to more overland routes, the roads could stay open longer in the winter, Conway said.

Handley is out of the Territories on vacation and wasn't available for comment.