Qujannamiik, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, and Members of the committee, today I am pleased to bring before you the Department of Transportation's proposed capital budget for 1993-94. The total budget includes expenditures of $33.7 million. This is a seven per cent reduction of $2.4 million from the department's revised 1992-93 capital forecast of $36.1 million.

In the Airports Capital Program the department will bring to completion two multi-year projects and commence a new one. The budget for 1993-94 includes $1.25 million to finish the new Paulatuk airport and $600,000 to finish the new airport at Lutsel K'e. The total expenditures over three years on the Paulatuk airport will be $4.2 million and just over $2 million at Lutsel K'e.

This budget year will see the start of a $3 million project, over three years, to re-align and extend the runway at Pelly Bay from 1,370 metres or 4,500 feet, to 1,525 metres or 5,000 feet. The first year of the project in 1993-94 involves an expenditure of $600,000 to relocate the non-directional beacon, hereafter referred to as the N.D.B., and to build the access road to the site.

The financing for the airport projects at Paulatuk, Lutsel K'e and Pelly Bay comes under the $16 million airport construction contribution agreement the department negotiated with Transport Canada in 1991.

The highlight of the Department of Transportation's proposed highway program for 1993-94 is the final preparations for the opening of the Mackenzie highway extension from Fort Simpson to Wrigley in the spring of 1994. The plan for 1993-94 includes expenditures of $5.3 million. The largest single expenditure is $4 million for the construction of a bridge across the Willowlake River. The extension needs a final $1 million for resurfacing prior to its opening to the public. Last summer the department's new ferry, the M.V. Lafferty, began service at Fort Simpson on the Liard River crossing. This freed the M.V. Johnny Berens to move down the river for service at the Camsell Bend crossing. The 1993-94 budget has $300,000 set aside to prepare the shore infrastructure; landings, haul-out ways as well as the camp accommodations for the crew of the Johnny Berens.

On the Dempster Highway, the 1993-94 budget has $1 million for the final lift of asphalt on the Inuvik airport road, bringing the road up to its full design strength with a four inch surface of pavement.

Reconstruction is scheduled to continue on Highways No. 1 and 3. Next year's construction program includes $1 million to pave the remaining 25 kilometres between Enterprise and Fort Providence. The department is working on the reconstruction of Highway No. 3 from both Fort Providence and Edzo. One project north of Fort Providence will reconstruct 20 kilometres of highway for a cost of $3.6 million. A $5.3 million expenditure will push the reconstruction 30 kilometres south of Edzo.

With its 1993-94 capital budget, the Department of Transportation will continue its marine program to improve community moorage and landing facilities. This fiscal year will see the completion of the breakwater projects in Broughton Island and Igloolik offering safe moorage and protection to local small crafts. Work will continue on the new breakwater in Gjoa Haven.

The year's budget allocates $150,000 to the first year of a four year project to build a breakwater in Pangnirtung. As I have already mentioned, the department plans to begin work on the shore infrastructure in Pelly Bay to receive the marine resupply of fuel to the community in 1993. An expenditure of $175,000 will prepare a sealift landing are and improve the existing landing area for small boats.

I have quickly gone over the Department of Transportation 1993-94 capital program to point out its highlights. I hope the Members of the Legislative Assembly can see in these projects substantial additions in improvements to the base of air, land and marine transportation infrastructure in the Northwest Territories. I also hope the Members will see in these capital allocations, the clear and steady direction for infrastructure development laid out in the transportation strategy.

As Mr. Todd says "so endeth the lesson", and so endeth my opening remarks.