Mr. Dent is correct. In 1992, Highway 2 did receive an asphalt pavement overlay. Recent inspections by the department staff reveal that the overlay is deteriorating prematurely. This premature deterioration was caused by improper asphalt overlay mix. The department, with the legal division, is evaluating options for recourse with the contractor and site engineers. We need to do this to prevent further deterioration, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Dent.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Chairman, that is correct. We are trying to recover the cost of this unfortunate project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Anyone else? For the record, I believe I finished Fort Smith, total region, $17.036 million. I believe we passed it, but for the record, total region, Fort Smith, $17.036 million.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Inuvik, total region, $2.3 million. Baffin, total region, $700,000.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Keewatin, total region, $1.15 million.

Agreed.

---Agreed

Kitikmeot, total region, $350,000. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to ask the Minister how his department priorizes community needs as far as harbour improvements. I noticed that the Baffin has one major one and the Keewatin has three communities with a major development, yet the Kitikmeot only has one small one with a Pelly Bay harbour enhancement. Is there a plan out there that the department is utilizing or is it based on demand from communities or from his regional departments and how do they designate funding for harbour enhancements? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Todd.

We do have a plan. Just to correct Mr. Ng's comments, in the Kitikmeot, we have done a significant amount of work in Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak and Pelly Bay. So there is a plan in place based upon the fiscal resources we have. They are somewhat limited. There is a slightly unique situation in some of the places in the west where the Coast Guard has been involved, historically. We have a plan in place and it is based upon the requests coming in from the community, the need established by the department, priorities established by the municipalities and the fiscal resources that we have. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Could the Minister clarify what involvement the Coast Guard would have in the communities in the western part of the region, primarily Coppermine and Cambridge Bay? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Todd.

We work very closely with the Canadian Coast Guard. I will ask Mr. Gamble, he has been dealing with them far longer than I have, if I may, to clarify for Mr. Ng the relationship and the role of the Coast Guard, and the development of wharfs.

Mr. Gamble.

The Coast Guard is broken into several regions and the Coast Guard in the western region did have some capital dollars available for facilities in the Mackenzie River and western Arctic, including Kitikmeot. In the last several years, they have made that funding available to us for upgrades at communities such as Taloyoak, Gjoa Haven and Paulatuk as well, using Coast Guard funding, which were not as successful in the eastern regions. They don't seem to have a capital fund there. We are also doing work in some of the Mackenzie valley communities to support the barge resupply landing improvements each year.

Thank you, Mr. Gamble. Total region, $350,000. Mr. Ng.

I would like to ask Mr. Gamble, regarding the Coast Guard funding, is it an annual amount that is designated to the department or is that a yearly negotiated amount? How does it affect the department's capital planning as far as harbour enhancements? Thank you.

Is it all right, Mr. Todd, if Mr. Gamble answers that question?