Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The committee was generally pleased with the Department of Transportation's presentation. Some concern was expressed that the recently tabled Transportation agenda does not provide the committee

or the Assembly with enough information about the department's long-term strategy. The department has to give the committee a clearer picture of medium and long-term plans, including priorities and deadlines for proposed projects.

Government Contracts

The issue of contracting, in general, and specifically negotiated contracts and the business incentive program, are discussed in this report, under the Financial Management Board. The committee is in favour of initiatives that will maximize opportunities for local employment on government contract work. The Department of Transportation must work with other departments to improve the policy and procedures surrounding negotiated contracts and in considering possible alternative to negotiated contracts.

We also look forward to seeing the results of the review of the business incentive policy (BIP), and encourage the government to strengthen BIP -- and, in fact, the entire public tender process -- in order to maximize local employment. It is important that the Department of Transportation work closely with other departments, especially the Department of Public Works and Services in their examination of the BIP, negotiated contracts and other issues affecting northern employment and economic development, so there will be maximum benefit to the north.

Arctic Airports

Members of the committee suggested that smaller airports be given more attention. There is a feeling that the department is concentrating on the larger airports in large communities -- especially on the negotiations to take over the "A" airports from the federal government -- to the exclusion of airports in smaller communities. The committee noted that the Transportation agenda suggests that all but one northern airport will have at least a "D" classification by 1988.

Recommendation 34

The committee recommends that the Department of Transportation increase the priority of improving air service in smaller communities, and that the department respond to the committee with a plan of action in these areas by August 1, 1994.

Emergency Response

The committee also expressed a desire for the department to take an active role in emergency response and safety throughout the transportation system. From regular highway patrols to airport safety, the department should be leading the way in making the Northwest Territories a safe place to travel. Some suggestions offered by the committee include training highway maintenance crews to be able to handle emergencies encountered by highway travellers, or building emergency airstrips at intervals along the highway system. There are numerous imaginative ideas which the department could use to achieve the goal of safer travel.

The committee encourages the department to consider ways in which the department could best use its resources to

provide emergency response throughout the NWT transportation system.

Budget Documents

While there was a great deal of movement from last year's departmental estimates to this year's -- that is, movement of PYs and funds from one task or activity to another -- the documents, themselves, contain very little explanation of what was moved where. We were quite disappointed with this, as it made it difficult for committee Members to follow the changes in the department. The committee strongly suggests that this department (and all departments) clearly describe the movements involved when funds or personnel are moved from on task or activity to another.

Funding For Large Projects

With large and important projects on the horizon, including the transportation corridor from Yellowknife through the Slave geological province to Coppermine, the government must find new and innovative means to find funding support for such projects. The government, in fact, should be working to alert possible investors to the enormous potential for development here in the north, and encourage them to invest in the north, especially to create a much-needed infrastructure.

Engineering Services And Privatization

The committee encourages the department to examine the engineering services provided in-house by existing staff, and carefully consider whether these services could be successfully provided by the private sector.