Where does the committee wish to go from here? Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think we will carry on with Renewable Resources.

Does this committee agree?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Department Of Renewable

Resources

Thank you. I believe it is page 12. Would the Minister of Renewable Resources like to make opening remarks?

Minister's Opening Remarks

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the 1992-93 capital budget for the Department of Renewable Resources is $838,000. About 20 per cent of the 1992-93 capital budget will be used to fix up existing facilities to meet fire and safety regulations. This includes planning to replace the office at Fort McPherson, at which two full-time Renewable Resource officers are stationed. The remainder of the proposed budget is intended to purchase mobile and other equipment for our officers in the communities. Most of these items will replace equipment that is old and can no longer be serviced. Mr. Chairman, I will be pleased to discuss the capital budget with Members of the committee, Mahsi cho.

Mr. Minister, do you want to bring in any witnesses at this time?

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Does the committee agree that the Minister should bring his witnesses in?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Thank you. Please proceed, Mr. Minister. For the record, would you introduce your witnesses this time?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my left is my deputy minister, Joe Handley; to my right is Rick Fell, director of finance.

Thank you. I wonder if the chairman of the standing committee on finance would like to make opening remarks? Mr. Todd.

Comments From The Standing Committee On Finance

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This budget is very much like the Minister himself; very little controversy. Mr. Chairman, the committee, in reviewing the Renewable Resources budget, has two areas of concern. One is with the fire base in Fort McPherson. There was some concern that $1.3 million was a significant amount of money for a seasonal facility. While the budget indicated it is replacement, it seemed like a significant replacement. We thought it should be reconsidered in light of other priorities.

Another area of significant concern is with respect to -- and Mr. Zoe has spoken to it many times -- the construction of the Lac la Martre office/warehouse complex which was in the 1991-92 capital estimates and previously committed by the government, but which is now being removed. With this in mind, Mr. Chairman, I will conclude my comments. Thank you.

Thank you. Further general comments. Mr. Nerysoo.

I will not take very much time, Mr. Chairman, but I do want to ask, generally, whether or not the capital initiatives under forest fire management is designing a replacement in Fort McPherson. I am not certain that there was ever one there. Your objectives indicate so in the document. Can you clarify this for me?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my understanding that we do not have a fire facility in Fort McPherson. We are putting in a new heliport and an unheated fire equipment storage building. We are replacing the office in town.

General comments. Mr. Todd.

Motion To Proceed With Construction Of Lac La Martre Office/Warehouse, Carried

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to move that this committee recommends to the Department of Renewable Resources that they proceed with the construction of the Lac la Martre office complex as previously committed.

We will wait for a few moments while the motion is being circulated. The motion is in order. To the motion, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Zoe, who is not here today, has spoken long, hard and eloquently about this issue. The Minister of Finance has talked at length about fulfilling previous commitments, which we respect and admire him for. In keeping with this, and given that this notice for expansion was in the 1991-92 budget, the committee felt that we should fulfill the commitment. Henceforth, the reason for the resolution. We are confident that if we really look hard -and I am sure the department will -- funding can be found for this project. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.