Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps I could have picked a better day to bring my departmental estimates forward, but here I am, and I am pleased to introduce the 1992-93 capital estimates for the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Chairman, the department is proposing capital estimates totalling $36,351,000 for 1992-93. Priority continues to be placed on the building of new water and sanitation infrastructure and improvements to existing infrastructure, which amounts to about 43 per cent of our proposed capital estimates, or $15,699,000. Most of these resources are allocated to water supply and treatment, water distribution, and
sewage collection systems.
Another nine per cent, or $3,234,000, is proposed for the construction of new arena facilities. Such facilities allow our athletes to prepare effectively for the Arctic Winter Games and other competitions, while providing healthy and socially worthwhile community activities for our youth and for community residents in general.
A further seven per cent, or $2,602,000, is planned for the provision of mobile equipment for road maintenance, public health, and fire protection. The equipment retrofit approach to funding mobile equipment continues to be cost effective in maintaining asset usefulness while developing the capability of municipal work staff to repair community mobile equipment.
Mr. Chairman, a further seven per cent of this budget, or$2,571,000, is identified for the planning, design, upgrading or reconstruction of community roads. In this work, the Department of Public Works frequently assists by providing engineering and contract management services to local governments.
A further three per cent, or $1,224,000, is proposed for technical and financial assistance to carry out site development. The associated drainage and landfill schemes help facilitate the development of logical community design and promote a safe and healthy environment.
The department's capital resources in 1992-93 do not address all identified basic needs and infrastructure requirements to address current community population growth and the ongoing replacement of aging capital infrastructure. However, I believe that the department's comprehensive capital planning process has identified, through consultation with local councils, the most urgent needs as represented in these proposed 1992-93 capital estimates. Those are my opening remarks, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.