MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation. Within my urban constituency are two stretches of provincial highway - the Bicentennial Highway as it comes down the Fairview hill to Bayers Road, and Northwest Arm Drive between Main Avenue and the Old Sambro Road. The problem I want to raise today is not the roads themselves, but rather the inadequate maintenance of provincial land running alongside the roads. In particular, I would mention the concerns of the residents of Abbott Drive, Elliott Street and School Avenue. These residents suffer to varying degrees from flooding, graffiti, garbage, unmowed grass and unrepaired tree damage on provincial lands. My question to the minister is, when will the Department of Transportation start taking seriously its responsibility to maintain provincial property alongside the Bicentennial Highway?

HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation takes very seriously the maintenance not only of roads, but of the areas alongside our highways.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Speaker, because this is an urban setting, these provincial roadside properties abut property owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality and sometimes the Halifax Regional Water Commission. Invariably there's confusion among residents and even among provincial and municipal work crews about what portions of the roadside properties each is responsible for maintaining. The best maintained properties are the ones the HRM crews maintain by mistake and the worst maintained properties are the ones where each side is pointing the finger at the other saying it's their responsibility. My question to the minister is, what concrete assurances can the minister give people living near the Bicentennial Highway that provincial property will be maintained by provincial crews with adequate resources to get the job done?

MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I guess, as the honourable member is aware, if he looks out his window at the amount of work that's going on on the Bi-Hi at the present time, I believe just adjacent to School Avenue. That would be a road, I would think, that any member would be proud to have in his particular constituency.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Speaker, the minister doesn't seem to understand - it's not about the road, it's about the property running alongside the road. A couple of weeks ago I looked at one particular area behind Abbott Drive - this is the area where the Bicentennial Highway is on concrete pillars above the residential area. This area is subject to regular winter flooding and the homeowner I visited told me that she wants to stay in the area, but the flooding problem is serious enough and persistent enough, that alone is enough to make her think about moving. My question to the minister is, in order that we can start working towards an effective and permanent solution to the problems experienced by people in my constituency who have the Bicentennial Highway for a neighbour, will the minister tour the affected area with me?

MR. RUSSELL: Mr. Speaker, I'll always be willing to tour with the honourable member for Halifax Fairview. Certainly I can do that. But, seriously, the concern that the honourable member has with regard to that area is one that is very, very difficult to identify as to whose responsibility it really is to maintain that area. I'll be pleased to take a trip with the honourable member sometime, but not during the Winter.