Debates of October 13, 2004 (day 19)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Michael McLeod. We talk of an open, honest and transparent government. Time and time again, Cabinet makes multi-million dollar decisions. I can’t be specific today, but the question I have is when will the public know what is happening in terms of improvement at the Yellowknife Airport? When will we have a chance to publicly debate those improvements and what is happening out there? This gets back to my question about the access road and future airport expansion, perhaps, out to that area delaying the City of Yellowknife having access to that land to build a road. I am wondering if perhaps the Minister could let me know when we will be able to have a public debate about that subject. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 209-15(3): Status Of Devolution Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our airport development plan is in the completion stage. We are right now doing some reviews on the whole package. We will have that available for the Members. We have offered it to the members of the GED committee as soon as it is ready. We will provide that in writing. We can have that discussion at that time with that presentation and also with other issues that the Members have agreed to.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 209-15(3): Status Of Devolution Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am just wondering, through you to the Minister, when was the decision made by Cabinet to go ahead with the improvements at the Yellowknife Airport. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist, Mr. Speaker, to go out to the airport and see that money is being spent on such things as apron improvements and parking lot improvements. This costs money. When was that decision made, and when were Regular Members allowed to debate what is happening at the Yellowknife Airport in terms of capital expenditures? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 209-15(3): Status Of Devolution Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, the improvements were made as a result of the CATSA security requirements. It has gone to Cabinet. It is in the supp and there will be opportunities to discuss that at that time. Thank you. It is coming.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Supplementary To Question 209-15(3): Status Of Devolution Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can appreciate the time constraints that the Minister and Cabinet might find themselves up against, but what I find hard to believe is they can make decisions like that without any input from a Regular Member or from the public, for that matter. There has been no public disclosure on what is happening out there. Unless you really work at the airport and see what is going on out there, the general public has no idea what amount of money is being spent out at the Yellowknife Airport, what the long-term plan is, or anything to that effect. I think that should not be allowed to happen. I don’t know if the Minister can elaborate further on how much money it is going to cost and the life expectancy of the expenditures, but that is something I think the public has a right to know. This government is spending millions of dollars on a facility that might not be in its current location for much longer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 209-15(3): Status Of Devolution Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is quite right. There has been a fairly short notice in terms of the airport development that is currently taking place. Our intention was to have a full study completed, an airport development package ready for presentation for down the road, several years before we had any improvements made to the airport facility here in Yellowknife. However, because of the 9-11 incident, many measures were brought forward including baggage handling and security in that area, which has forced us to accelerate the development of the facility in terms of providing actual security for baggage screening, and with that we are planning to do some improvements to reduce congestion and allow for a longer life of this airport. This current contract, this whole development plan that we are bringing forward, has been presented to the members of the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development. We continue to have further discussions on it as required. Thank you.