Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I inform the House, that later today, I, along with the Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe will be flying to Lac La Martre to celebrate, with the community, the opening of its new airport.

The Department of Transportation was able to build the airport through a fifty-fifty cost sharing agreement, with Transport Canada, for the construction of seven new community airports in the Northwest Territories. The cost sharing construction agreement was negotiated as part and parcel of the Arctic airports transfer agreement in 1990.

The new airport brings several benefits to the community of Lac La Martre. The old airport was located inside the community, and was restricting the community's growth. The land taken up by the old airport is now available for community expansion.

The new airport is also better for the aircraft companies, and pilots, who serve Lac La Martre. With a length of 3,000 feet, the new runway gives the pilots an extra 800 feet of safety margin for their take-offs and landings. The new runway is also on a better alignment which should eliminate the problem the old airstrip had with cross-winds.

As the Minister of Transportation, I am especially proud of the way the department carefully managed the project, so that the people of Lac La Martre could make the most of the employment opportunities the project offered. As part of the opening ceremonies today, fifteen residents will receive the Arctic College Heavy Equipment Diplomas that they earned while on the job.

All in all, I am proud to say that the opening of the Lac La Martre airport later today will be a big success for everyone involved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.