Thank you, Madam Chair. Back to the ferries, I know, looking through some of the documentation, that we've been able to reduce the cost of operating by swapping out engines with a different brand and that. Are we looking at doing that for all of them? If we are, are we looking to making sure that we're buying the same brand for each of them so that, in terms of parts and maintenance, we're not having to keep parts for this brand, parts for that brand? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We're always looking at ways that we can better optimize. I think the Member's points are very good. Why buy five types of engines that we would then need five different types of people to service or parts for? Your comments are noted. Definitely. If my department is not already thinking along those lines, then we'll definitely be having a conversation afterwards that they should be. I would assume they are. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go to highway operations. I'm thinking about Highway No. 1 from the border into Enterprise. There's no shoulders on that highway. I'm wondering if the department is looking at widening that portion to ensure that we have a highway that's safe and allows the amount of traffic that goes over it, to go over it safely. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It definitely depends on the different types of risk, so each section of the highway is evaluated for those types of risk. I think I'm going to ask Dr. Dragon to just provide whether or not the Highway No. 1 in that specific area is coming up on our list. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Dr. Dragon.
Thanks, Madam Chair. The Minister is very much correct in terms of looking at all the different highways and looking at priorities on those highways. Right now, identified for Highway No. 1, we have chip seal resurfacing from kilometre zero to 70, and kilometre 135 to 170, looking at doing that. We're also in Highway No. 1, looking at the Trout River Bridge rehabilitation, and that's at kilometre 324, as well as culvert repair that we have at kilometre 510. Again, I've noted the widening as an opportunity for future work, but right now, that's the priority that we have set for Highway 1. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to move onto road licensing and safety. Right now, with dealing with COVID, it seems like the staff that looks after the highway system, they are basically managing the border. Are we going to be putting them back onto the highways and doing inspections of vehicles that are going over the highway, big trucks and that? I know that there have been instances and concern about speeding now that trucks know that there's no enforcement. I'm just wondering what's happening with that? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. As they are at the checkpoint, they are actually kind of somewhat inspecting vehicles as they go by them. I would imagine they're looking for any deficiencies as they sit at the checkpoint. Maybe not. I saw you shake your head "no." I do believe the idea is that we would not be sacrificing highway enforcement for the people at the borders. We still have our shifts covered for the highways. If people are speeding, that's also an RCMP issue. We would definitely be communicating if we're hearing instances of that to the police. I'm just going to ask Dr. Dragon if he has anything to add to that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Dr. Dragon.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. In looking at responding to COVID and getting the borders up really quickly, we had a lot of our HTOs, highway transportation officers, that were assigned to those checkpoints. Initially, I would say, we were trying to just focus in on that. What we've been able to do now is really move towards kind of a hybrid system, so having some of our inspections that are taking place at the border. It's a little bit tricky now that we've moved the border operation to right at the border versus Enterprise. We look at operations at Enterprise picking up. It also depends on region and where we have them coming in from B.C. and where we have them coming in from the Yukon. The one thing I would say about this line item: it's very much our road licensing system. This is where we would renew our licences, our registrations, that sort of thing, not necessarily our HTO officers. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to go back to the ferries for a minute. The Johnny Berens, that one, it looks like it should probably be replaced, and the Abraham Francis. Is there any consideration or any work done to bring that up to 64,000 kilograms? Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. That is a pretty specific question, so I think I will pass that one on to Dr. Dragon, as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Dr. Dragon.
Thank you, Madam Chair. We have four ferries that we currently run. One of them, we do own forces. The other three are done by contractors. A lot of times, we look at, again, very much a regulated activity by Transport Canada. When we look at various upgrades to that, that system, we look right across the board in trying to maximize. As the Minister mentioned, we are trying to access some funds from the CLF fund that would allow us to upgrade. However, we have not heard yet whether or not we have been successful in that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Dr. Dragon. I will move on to the Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Madam Chair. On page 240, I am just wondering about the allocations for the airport operations. I have always been interested in airports lately, and I guess I was wondering if I can get a detailed allocation for airport operations.
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. If you would like a breakdown, a budget breakdown of the airport operations, we are going to have to provide that as a return, if that is okay with the Member. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.
Another line that I am interested in is the regional operations, the leases, the $29,191,000. I am wondering if I can get a breakdown, a detailed breakdown of those.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. All of our leases are office space leases, all those prices, so they are those costs. They are in all the different regional communities, the Yellowknife area, your community, as well. We will provide a breakdown of those by each community, if that is what the Member would like. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.
The other thing that I am interested in is the regional projects. What does the $2,951,000 entail?
Thank you, Member. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Actually, sorry, Madam Chair. I am going to pass this one over to Dr. Dragon, as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Dr. Dragon.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I am going to just give you the money that is changing from the 2019-2020 mains to the 2020-2021 mains. For regional projects, mainly that increase is for collective agreement wage increases, but I would turn it over to Mr. Brennan to be able to go through that in detail. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Dr. Dragon. Mr. Brennan.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, so the regional projects line item is essentially the money that is spent in the regions by staff working in the regions, building maintenance and other minor projects that do not fit the capital definition per our Financial Administration Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Brennan. Member for Thebacha.
I could not hear him. Could he speak loud and clear so I could just hear what he said? Please, Madam Chair.
Mr. Brennan, can you repeat yourself?
Okay, Madam Chair. I will try to speak louder. Regional projects is the money that is allocated to the regions for -- higher? Okay. It's for building maintenance and other small projects in the region.
[Microphone turned off] ...the earpiece switch, you will be able to hear him. All right. Sorry for cutting you off, Mr. Brennan. Let's try this one more time.
Okay. Can you hear me now? All right. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes. The regional projects budget is again a regional budget allocated to the maintenance staff in the regions, to the minor projects on buildings and other items. It's for work that does not meet the capital definition as per the Financial Administration Act. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Brennan. Member for Thebacha.
Madam Chair, so it's more discretionary I take it?
Thank you, Member for Thebacha. Minister.
Thank you, Madam Chair. It would definitely be dependent on each office and what was needed at the office. I do believe that, under certain amounts, there would be regional authorities that could go ahead and do a small project without having to escalate it up the chain, but there would be thresholds in which there would need to be senior and then, I would imagine, up to my level, ministerial approval. Because those are the smaller ones, I would imagine a lot of it is done regionally. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Thebacha.
I guess, Madam Chair, my concern with that would be making sure that it's neutral, objective, and making sure that the Aboriginal groups are contacted in this case, even at a regional level or at a community level because many times, a lot of the groups are looking for extra employment and opportunities. I would like to make sure that the department takes that into consideration when this happens because it's really important that we include everyone. Inclusiveness is extremely important, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Member. Minister.
