Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to Question O19-12(2), asked by Henry Zoe on February 13, 1992. As the Members are aware, this government implemented an expenditure management program for the 1991-92 fiscal year effective November 25, 1991 which applies to all departments and agencies.

Specifically, all capital projects for which a contract had not been entered into by November 29, 1991 were to be submitted to the Financial Management Board for review, to consider the possibility of cancellation or deferral.

I concurred with the recommendation to delay the facility at Lac la Martre to follow the new airport construction. A heliport is planned as part of the station, and this should be located at the airport. The current site that is proposed for the Lac la Martre base is in the middle of town. This is not a good site for the heliport. Other communities who have heliports in the middle of town are also requesting relocation of the offices. We expect this would happen in Lac la Martre and prefer not to have to move the facility once it is constructed.

The department advised the community of Lac la Martre in the fall of 1991 that the project was under review and there was a possibility of postponing construction of the station to coincide with the reconstruction of the airport.

The chairman of the Financial Management Board met with all deputy ministers on December 20, 1991 to identify potential reductions or deferrals. The actual decision to defer the Lac la Martre project was confirmed by the Financial Management Board on December 24, 1991. We have not formally advised the community of any decision pending the standing committee on finance review and the tabling of the proposed reductions.