Michael McLeod

Mr. Chairman, we had some challenges to fill the position while it was located in the Member’s riding. We will certainly consider relocating it back at some point as the restructuring is done to deal with the management of the change in the ferry systems in the southern part of the Territories. I guess, more specifically, when the Deh Cho Bridge process has come to conclusion and that ferry system is planned to go out of service we will look at rearranging and relocating positions back to Fort Simpson.

Mr. Chairman, this work was planned for last year. Of course, we had weather and other issues that didn’t allow us to move forward. We would like to have that done this summer. The kilometres we are looking at are roughly 70 kilometres. It is in the area that has already been reconstructed. We want to put a cap on it to protect it.

We do keep our word. I believe the lounge is done. It is our version of the Maple Leaf Lounge in the South. We have a room that is dedicated towards the elders and some of the people who have need for a place to relax; mostly people who are on medical travel. It has a couch and TV. As far as we understand, our information tells us that it’s done. We’ll have to confirm that and confirm it with the Member.

Mr. Chairman, yes, I can confirm that it was attempted. It was in partnership with a trucking company. If the Member is interested, we can provide him with some time, dates of when it was attempted and as much information as we have at our disposal.

Mr. Chairman, the changes that we’ve made in the active position summary page is to add an environmental analyst in Yellowknife and we’ve also transferred or deleted two positions that were transferred to Public Works. One is a plumbing building maintainer and one is another position that is a building maintainer here in Yellowknife. So we deleted two positions and added one.

Mr. Chairman, I think we’ve moved in the area of being able to help the communities a little more in this budget. We have had, historically, a program that provided money for access roads that would help clear trails or allow people to build ATV roads to historic sites or tourist attraction areas. This year, through the recommendation from the Rural and Remote Communities Committee, we have expanded and increased our budget to a million dollars and changed the criteria to allow for communities to apply for dollars to work on marine or other projects that they see fit. That includes roads to...

Mr. Chairman, the concept of airport authority has been looked at. Models have been drafted. It would prove successful, I guess, if that was the desire. We have also looked at our own operations. We are working hard towards balancing the cost of operations and the revenues. Therefore, I think we are achieving the same result, in my own opinion and some of my staff. The capital, of course, is always a challenge. That is outside of the operations. That would continue to be something the government would have to look at.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this is a service that’s been provided by the private sector for some time. Cooper Barging and NTCL already provide that service. It’s not an area that we’ve looked at entering. It’s going to be fairly costly to do so and there have been no plans to move or relocate any ferries to that area.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. I would like to bring in witnesses.

Mr. Chairman, we have committed to doing some engineering work on this bridge and we plan to do that in the next little while. For the long term we’d like to work on the alignment of the bridge and that work will be included as part of the PDR, or the project description report, work that’s going to be done for that section. Thank you.