Mr. Chairman, last year, or this fire season, the department has gone way over budget with regard to expenditures. One of the things fire tower operators in my own constituency noted, where there was a limited amount of fire, was a number of choppers that are flying around even though they have fire towers there. I think we really have to look at the establishment of more fire towers and fewer choppers. It's a lot easier on your own if you have fire towers, as opposed to choppers flying 16 hours a day to spot fires. I know fire tower operators are always saying to me, "What are those choppers doing? I'm already doing the job." But they still have choppers flying in their vicinity.

I know the Nahendeh Member isn't here, but last year Renewable Resources met in Fort Simpson and I was there for that meeting too. One of the requests they made, as part of their plans, was to look at fire towers being established in Wrigley, Sibbeston Hill, Redknife Hill and the Horn Mountains. Those are different areas in which you might want to establish fire towers so you cut down on the amount...I'm certainly not trying to take away from the helicopter companies, but it seems to me that for the amount of costs we incurred this year, one of the things to consider is how you can most effectively deliver the programs in a given season without going overboard. At least with fire towers, you know. They operate from May to October, and you know how much it will cost to pay the person to stay there and the amount of chopper services they require every other week. I think those can be determined. But you can't determine how many flying hours a chopper will work. Because of that you run into quite a large expenditure.