Agreed.

--- Agreed

Equipment Acquisition, Total Capital, Agreed

Total acquisition of equipment, $500,00. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Vehicles And Equipment, Total Capital,

Agreed

Total activity, $500,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Department Of Public Works, Total Capital, As Amended

Page 10-9, program summary, capital expenditures, total capital expenditures, $4,374,000. Mr. Gargan.

There is one concern that I have with regard to DPW, and that is last week I was in Hay River on the reserve and there was vandalism that occurred in the school before my time. What has happened is that DPW is saying it is not their responsibility to do the repairs. I do not know if it is because the vandalism occurred on the reserve or the department no longer assumes responsibility over government property that is vandalized. I am wondering what the arrangements are with regard to that. I know the school was broken into and there was quite a bit of damage done and DPW has refused to do the necessary repairs or cover the cost for the repairs.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is our responsibility, Mr. Gargan. Mr. Doherty will be faxing the regional person in charge down there tomorrow morning to instruct them to do the repairs. It is DPW's responsibility. I apologize for the holdup of the repair.

Thank you. Program summary. Total capital expenditures, $4,374,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

I did want to ask, as you were quickly going along, about the vehicles and equipment activity and the $500,000 capital expenditure he is requesting for that particular activity. I would like to know what the standard is with respect to determining when DPW should purchase new equipment.

I will keep that page for your question so that we do not have to get consent from the House to go back. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Generally, the equipment is replaced on the following basis. Small

equipment such as motor toboggans is replaced after three years. Passenger vehicles are replaced after five years or 100,000 kilometres, or whichever comes first. Heavy equipment is replaced after eight years or 16,000 hours of operation, or whichever comes first. Before deciding on replacement as stated above, an inspection is carried out to assess the condition of the equipment. If the condition is found to be good, the replacement is postponed in the interest of economy. In addition, the client department is requested, before replacement, to reassess its need to replace in order to conserve government funds.

The equipment is sometimes replaced before reaching the age, mileage, hours of operation as stated above due to exceptional circumstances. For example, a unit may be beyond economic repair; the unit may present a hazard to the operator or its passenger; the unit has been involved in an accident resulting in major damage; or, the unit is no longer suitable for its original purpose.

As a result of the restraint exercise on replacement as described above, we have a large number of equipment items older than the recommended replacement age as stated above, as follows. Fifty per cent of the small equipment is older than 1987; the average year is 1983 -- seven years old. Thirty-three per cent of the passenger vehicles are older than 1985; the average year is 1982 -- eight years old. Six per cent of the heavy equipment is older than 1982; the average year is 1975 - 15 years old. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

So some measures have been placed into effect, taking into consideration the fiscal reality that we are in with respect to purchases of new vehicles. Is this correct, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. Minister.

Yes. We are also taking a look at our pool vehicles to see where they can better be used, or to see if we need them, or dump them, or whatever. We are looking at where departments or people could use the rental market.

Thank you. Mrs, Marie-Jewell.

I would like to commend the Minister, and I would also like to encourage him to take every step necessary to either utilize vehicles from the public service, whether they be taxi service or whether they be rental units as opposed to purchasing new government vehicles. There is a perception by the public in the time of fiscal restraint that it is still okay for the government to purchase new vehicles. I guess the same concerns I expressed in respect to renovations of office accommodation can be applied here with new vehicles. Any other significant measures that you can take in respect to justifying the need for new vehicles or to be able to address avoiding purchases of new vehicles should certainly be considered and utilized.

Mr. Minister.

I agree. We are doing it.

Department Of Public Works, Total Capital, As Amended, Agreed

Program summary, total capital expenditure, $4,374,000. Agreed?