Robert C. McLeod

I will be making it available to the public, including tabling. I can table the letter, but what I need to do before that, out of respect for a consensus system, is share. We have a briefing with committee, and I want to give committee an update before I am in a position to release anything publicly.

Early indications are, for the federal government, this is one of the projects that meets their vision. When we put a good business case forward, I think the federal government will be receptive to helping us to see this project come to fruition.

It is something that fits into their mandate, and it's something that early indications are they have kind of looked at this project favourably. Whether that translates into significant investment remains to be seen, but we have to ensure that we have a fairly solid business case going forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the discussions on the territorial financing renewal are well-advanced. It is important to remember that this is described in federal legislation, as opposed to an agreement that is negotiated.

Currently, there is a general agreement on a renewal, and the changes proposed by the federal government are minor and relatively technical in nature. We were pleased that there weren't any significant changes that would reduce our grant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not sure about the plans, but a lot of those folks out there who are in that type of industry, they know where some of the fires were, so there is an opportunity for them to go into the riding. We would hope that members of the constituency would be the first ones to try and go take advantage of the harvest, but I am sure that those who are in that industry, those who pick them, do know where the fires are, and if there is an opportunity, they would go there and pick them.

As far as promoting it, I would have to check with my colleague at ITI to see if there is anything in the works on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, in the 2017-2018 budget, we budgeted $1.295 million for JK upgrades, and the expenditures were actually about $1,118,629, so there is about $176,000 in carry-over, expected carry-over. As far as the actual detail of what, we would have to find the information. If there is something with the washroom, or if a toilet seat's not put on, we will endeavour to gather that information together and share it with the Member. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We do not have that level of detail, and that would be what the study would be, would be studying different options, and I am sure the options that the Member pointed out would be some of the options that they would be looking at, but I will confirm that again. Once they start their preliminary work, I think they will have a good indication of exactly what they are looking at, and I think that would be an appropriate time to have a sit-down with committee and say: this is what we are looking at; can we get some feedback from committee? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is that this is new money. The $3.142 million is here, and over the next number of years, there will be additional investments as well.

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it was a fairly significant influx of federal money, and some large capital projects we had on our own. That is the reason for the carry-overs, and as we go through the details, I think you'll have a pretty good indication of where a lot of this money was supposed to have been spent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is a site selection is in process, designed to start in the summer of 2018, with construction in the spring of 2019. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. There is the carry-over. The project was delayed, responding to the Gwich'in Land and Water Board use for a land-use permit. As far as the contract being awarded, I am not aware of the contracts being awarded yet. I will work on my colleague from the Department of Infrastructure to see if a contract has been awarded. It seems to be the bulk of the delay is with the land-use permit. I believe they had chosen a site for this, and then they have to go through the Gwich'in Land and Water Board. We will follow up on that and get a bit more...