Minister of Health.

Oral questions. Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Finance. I recognize that he is not in the House today because of other commitments that need to be attended to. Therefore, I would like to direct my question to the Acting Government Leader and hope that he would bring this to the attention of the Minister of Finance. My question, Mr. Speaker, is that in Fort Smith I have a constituent that has been asking the Department of Finance for some time, for an exemption to the tax on fuel to be served on the Salt River Reserve. They have yet to have a reply. Would the acting Government Leader request the Minister of Finance to give a reply to that request?

Acting Government Leader.

Oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I have a question for the Minister of Transportation. In respect to the reply to the oral question he made today, he indicated that the Department of Transportation ploughs these access roads that are used by trappers when they are authorized by Parks Canada. Is not the highway portion of the road through Wood Buffalo National Park continually maintained by the GNWT for Parks Canada?

Minister of Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, I am told that the responsibility of clearing roads is the responsibility of the federal government, Parks Canada. We use our equipment to clear the roads and we get the funds from the federal government. I am not sure if the roads are continually cleared. I do not know if that is the regular program of Parks Canada.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can let the Minister know that is one of the main functions of his department in Fort Smith, to clear the roads through Wood Buffalo National Park, particularly Highway No. 5.

Supplementary, in his reply he indicated that these access roads to trappers' cabins have been ploughed on at least three occasions this year and are considered to be in reasonable condition. I know that it has snowed more than three times and sometimes it has drifted a lot more than three times. What does he determine to be "in reasonable condition?"

Minister of Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know what that means but I will endeavour to ask Parks Canada to see if we can get resources to plough the roads.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to indicate to the Minister that it is not Parks Canada that we have to ask for the resources to clear the roads, it is part of the responsibility of the Department of Transportation that they clear these roads with an agreement with Parks Canada on a charge-back agreement. That is the arrangement made. I would like to know if the Minister would be able to give me assurance, coming into the winter for these trappers, that their access roads can get ploughed without myself having to call his department whenever they are needed?

Minister of Transportation.

Mr. Speaker, I will take the Members' advice and see if we can keep the roads ploughed enough for the trappers to go through.

Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. I realize he provided me with an answer but I would like to add to my earlier question concerning the safety of the airstrip. However this has been a concern even prior to my becoming an MLA. I wonder if I will receive a more positive response in the future? Has there been anything put into the capital plans to provide for upgrading of the airstrip in Lake Harbour?

Minister of Transportation.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The federal government, during our negotiations in transferring airports to the territorial government, agreed to provide a specified amount of moneys and responsibilities. There are certain communities without airstrips and they have to be priorized, due to the limited funding we have received for airport maintenance.

In response to Lake Harbour, the federal government's Department of Transportation has issued a licence to regulate and operate the airstrip. To date we have not finalized the arrangements as to exactly when the upgrading of the airstrip will be done in Lake Harbour.

Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Justice, probably in relation with the Minister of Economic Development who is not here at this time. I have a family in my constituency in which a person died about five years ago and the estate is tied up with the

public trustee for that length of time. Is it common practice for the public trustee to tie up an estate for this length of time? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.