Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, transportation is a very important part of the community. I will direct my question to the honourable Minister responsible for Economic Development and Tourism. Transportation is a very important part of the community, where the community

depends on hunting, trapping, and commercial fishing for subsistence use, or whatever the requirement may be. Such a community which depends on transportation, especially during the summer and fall, is Gjoa Haven. Gjoa Haven, Mr. Speaker, is situated on an island. Given that fact, the hunters' and trappers' association of Gjoa Haven has made a formal proposal, I'm sure directed to the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, through the regional office. I wonder if the honourable Minister is aware of such a proposal. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Just a point of clarification, Mr. Speaker. Is this the proposal as it relates to a freight subsidy for flying meat and fish into the Cambridge Bay plant? I just need to get a clarification.

Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm speaking for the people of Gjoa Haven. The Gjoa Haven Hunters' and Trappers' Association has, in fact, made a proposal through the regional office in Cambridge Bay. They wanted to acquire a seagoing vessel to transport meat from the mainland to the island, for commercial fisheries and sometimes for emergency purposes. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Yes, Mr. Speaker, I am very aware of that proposal. We are currently looking at the possibility of a vessel. However, I have to caution everybody, we have to take a hard look at getting maximum utilization out of it. That's currently being reviewed by the department. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Gjoa Haven has initially requested a boat, but according to my understanding after communicating with the Gjoa Haven Hunters' and Trappers' Association the boat was, in fact, given to a community in the Keewatin region. I hope the Honourable Minister will seriously look into getting a boat for that community. Thank you.

That's sort of a question. Mr. Todd, you can give sort of an answer.

I want to assure my honourable colleague there was no boat, that was destined for Gjoa Haven, moved to the Keewatin region. We are currently looking at the possibility of trying to determine the feasibility of some kind of marine transportation for fish and for caribou and possibly for search and rescue, as was indicated by the honourable Member. I want to make it very clear, no boat destined for Gjoa Haven has gone to Keewatin. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the boat that was supposed to have gone to Gjoa Haven was given to a community in the Keewatin region before the Honourable Minister became a Member of this House. Thank you. (Microphone turned off)

Mr. Todd.

I'm not aware of that. However, I will look into it. And if, in fact, Mr. Ningark is correct, I'll take the appropriate action necessary. But, I'm not aware of the Department of Economic Development purchasing a boat that was destined for Gjoa Haven and then trying to move it into the Keewatin. I want to assure the House if that, in fact, is in the case -- and I'm not aware of it, it was done prior to my appointment -- it won't happen.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since we all missed the honourable Member from Keewatin Central, I would like to direct another question, in his capacity as Minister of Transportation. It is my understanding that the government is negotiating with Transport Canada to assume responsibility for the Arctic A airports in the NWT. These are the only remaining airports that are still under federal government jurisdiction. As there are some immediate future capital needs apparent in at least two of these Arctic airports, that I'm aware of -- namely Resolute and Cambridge Bay -- I would like to ask the Minister if these short-term and long-term funding requirements are part of the negotiations which his department is undertaking?

Minister Todd.

The honourable Member, as usual, is correct. It would be our intention to ensure that the capital and the O and M costs would be met and any obligations under the current federal government, if we transfer it. There is no question that we would ensure these fiscal obligations were incorporated into the formal agreement, should we, after consulting with the House, agree to a transfer of Arctic "A" airports. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ng.

Supplementary question to the Minister. Is it the intention of the government, in assuming operational responsibilities of these airports, to internally operate them, to privatize them or to devolve the responsibility to the municipalities?

Minister Todd.

Good question. The Arctic B and C airports are a combination of community involvement with the municipalities, with the CARS program, et cetera. I would think we would probably be looking at a similar agreement, perhaps with the municipalities. I'm not quite sure. That is an interesting question. I will take it as notice and report back to the honourable Member. I do want to say that we're currently negotiating the deal and again, there has been no agreement...