Mr. Chairman, the department is not aware of any request for upgrade or repairs to the Bailey Bridge at Fort Smith. I wonder if it might come under Transportation or perhaps the Member could give us more information, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Mr. Chairman, I think the request either went to the Minister of Renewable Resources or the Minister of Transportation. The point I am trying to make is that it is on the Salt River Reserve which is out of the municipality. It will assist the community of Fort Smith so I will bring this forth under the budget in regards to the Bailey Bridge, under a different department. Although, I was under the impression that it would somehow come under M.A.C.A.

Mr. Chairman, if I may, I can ask the Minister of M.A.C.A. to deal with his counterpart, the Minister of Transportation, to address this. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

I am already getting acknowledgement from the Minister of Transportation. I think he is anxious to look into it so I will get together with him, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

The reason I am bringing it up is that I am aware of an extra bridge as a result of the closure of Pine Point. I cannot recall what the name is of that particular bridge but M.A.C.A. looks at bridge repairs within the municipality, but the reserve not being a municipality, perhaps they can address this concern of the Bailey Bridge by this extra bridge that is available. Thank you.

Thank you. General comments, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, once again. In the land/road/site on the various in Fort Smith. Now, if this community planning develops control and use of land within the borders, does the Minister know the community of Fort Simpson is situated on the island and in order for growth you have to expand on the mainland? I was wondering if the Minister knows if there are any future plans to provide financial assistance to the village of Fort Simpson to some site planning expansion onto the mainland? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. Fort Simpson is a tax-based municipality and, as such, they have the ability to come forward and enter into agreements with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. There can be contributions of a matching nature made to them. They have the ability to go out and also, by way of debenture, borrow money. So, yes, the department will cooperate with them in their expansion mode. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Community planning, Fort Smith, total region $758,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Inuvik, total region $997,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Baffin, total region $1.448 million. Agreed?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Thank you. Keewatin, total region $1.348 million. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the issues raised by both the communities that I represent, Baker Lake and Arviat, have been in the area of core piping. We are finding that in both communities the major buildings in the communities, such as schools, nursing stations and other major buildings that consume water and dispose of sewage to our large group of people are taking up so much of the time of the water trucks or the sewage trucks that some houses are suffering as a result of it. I am wondering if the department has considered, will be considering or has received requests from both Baker Lake and Arviat regarding core piping in those communities?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we have had this debate in the House before and if you put in a piped system does it take away from the jobs in the community?

On the issue of Baker Lake, in particular, the department has been having discussions with the community of Baker Lake. The latest read we received from them is that they do not want to pursue core piping at the present time. They would rather maintain the status quo and keep the jobs for the people driving the trucks, etc., etc.

However, the Member does raise a point that perhaps should be looked into and that is if service is slow or if it is not being given in an adequate fashion, perhaps that is something we can raise with the community to find out if they are, in fact, unable to cope with the demand upon their equipment at the present time. We will be glad to look into that, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just wanted to add something to what the Minister is saying. At the time

that the decision was made that employment was more important, I think that that was true, because service was sufficient to be able to be brought into each of the houses. But I think at this point the communities are growing and the community of Arviat especially, has the highest growth rate in Canada. So they have a need which I think far outweighs the requirement for employment at this point.

Also, the issue of health in the community is something that has to be considered because without sufficient sewage disposal service, health will become an issue in the community of Arviat. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.