Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Clearly there is excitement about the potential benefits to northerners resulting for mineral exploration and development the proposed development of a new port and highway from Yellowknife to the Arctic coast. The committee supports the Department of Transportation in ensuring it goes ahead with maximum benefits to northerners.
On a more routine basis, as the Minister knows, this committee is most concerned that the department achieve reductions in the costs of transportation which adds so much to the northern cost of living. Secondly, better access to isolated communities is also key. This can be accomplished through providing access roads in some communities or better flight services in others.
The committee recognizes that the Minister is new to the department. However, with his experience we trust he will get to the bottom line quickly and get the most out of our investment in transportation dollars. We also trust the Minister will ensure that the Northwest Territories receives its fair share of the federal government transportation initiatives of $500 million and pursues other funding options. We note the Minister mentioned he was going after those.
Finally, the committee was surprised that the department did not know the status of decentralizing Arctic airports. This gives us further concerns about the government's communication and apparent disorganization.
Mr. Chairman, the committee has one motion which I would like to present which relates to the Department of Transportation.