This question is to Mr. Pollard in his capacity as Minister of Finance. It is a new question. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not aware if the department is able to shift funding from the new lift that is going to be put on that portion of the highway because it is required for the long-term benefit of that particular highway. It suffers major damage if it is not done. I will pass on the comments to the Minister of Transportation. I do not see any way of shifting funds away from that portion onto the gravel portion, Mr. Speaker, although I am not a highways expert. I will pass that on to the new Minister. Thank you.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery Gerry Antoine, the Chief of Fort Simpson, and our former colleague, Nick Sibbeston, former M.L.A. and the interim Chief of Lynx River.

---Laughter

---Applause

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I may have been misunderstood. Earlier, the Minister indicated that he would look at the department using funding, which was initially for pavement, for chip seal, plus the amount of funds that we expend on calcium-chloride. Is he now indicating to this House that he is only going to look at the funding for calcium- chloride to be considered or expenditures on chip seal of that particular highway? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, speaking as the acting Minister of Transportation, when I asked the department what could be done with regard to chip sealing that portion of the highway that is now gravel, the suggestion was made to have a meeting with the community to discuss what they would like done, and for the community to spend less money on the dust control and put that money towards chip seal. That was the first part of the question, Mr. Speaker. The second part of the question was about taking funds away from the repaving of the other portion of the highway. I am advised by the department that that is not advisable as the highway requires that to maintain its strength over a long period of time. I am not sure if there is an option of moving funds from the repaving over to the gravel section, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Why is it that the Minister of Finance allows funding in the budget to repave a highway which does not have a good base? Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I am not a highways expert. I can only tell you what I am told by the department. It is the same process that has occurred between Enterprise and Hay River. They had a good base. There is a lift of asphalt put down and it is allowed to settle out. There are road bands put on to protect that portion of the highway until it gets the last lift of pavement. Then it becomes strong enough to withstand large trucks mostly at all times of the year. It has only been partially completed, Mr. Speaker. It is only two-thirds done. It needs the extra lift put on it to make it a complete highway. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. This is the last supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

That particular highway does have chip seal on it already. Would the Minister review the budget to determine why this government allows for funding to repave a paved highway which does not have a solid base prior to the initial paving? That is exactly what is happening. Thank you.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I think that the Member makes a good suggestion. I shall review it along with the new Minister of Transportation and provide the Member with a detailed report on how things happened, why they happened, and why they have to happen in the future. I will do that, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The space requirement for decentralization into Hay River is being looked at by the department. There will be a square footage call for space in Hay River. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once everything is finalized, then we will go to a tender call to provide the space. Thank you.

Item 5, Oral Questions. Supplementary, Mr. Zoe.