There are no plans under the existing fiscal framework that we have to continue with any highway,
other than what we have done. The work that was done on that highway up to Mr. Antoine's riding was a federal responsibility that was negotiated in previous years. We now take the responsibility for the operating and maintenance of it and we are putting in that bridge this year. I want to assure the Member that this is a priority clearly in the eyes of the department and myself. There are some rumours afoot that perhaps the energy that is being put into Izok Lake will take away from the bigger scheme of things. That is simply not true. Izok Lake is a specific project that we are going to deal with, but we are going to continue to deal with the overall transportation strategy which includes the completion of the Mackenzie Valley Highway. However, everyone knows that requires significant federal investment in public infrastructure.
Once we have brought the NWT transportation strategy up to what I call "1993 conditions" in consultation with the honourable Member and others, I would see that as a negotiation document for me to move forward, with whoever our new federal counterparts are going to be, to seek funding through a joint initiative to carry on with this large scale road project. It was an issue which was raised in a meeting recently in Norman Wells and I did have some communication with people there. It does require significant federal funding. It is no different than what is happening in the other jurisdictions in Canada, whether it is the QEW in Ontario that is jointly provincially and federally funded or the ferries in BC or the maritimes. We are asking for the same conditions and negotiated deals as are being made with the provincial jurisdictions. I am optimistic that we can move quickly to bring the strategy up to 1993 conditions. Then, we would move to discuss it with our federal counterparts. If you think optimistically, we would hopefully come forward with a reasonable agreement as was originally in the 1989-90 NWT transportation strategy. I think it is incumbent upon me to say at this time that with the limited resources that we have, it simply requires significant federal dollars to accomplish any of it. It is a priority and I am optimistic that by the end of the summer we will be in a position to start negotiations with our federal counterparts.