(Translation) Mr. Chairman, I have a question with regard to what we were dealing with yesterday. This is going to be directed to the Minister of Transportation. I would like to thank him for the excellent job he has done up to today. I would like to point out that the communities are different, in size and population. Some of the communities have more people, some have fewer people. The smaller communities do not have larger scheduled flights going in to these communities as often as they have in the larger communities. For instance, in my community the airport is very small and because the airport is small only smaller aircraft can utilize the airstrip. We have larger scheduled flights going in on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Another concern I wanted to raise with the Minister of Transportation; of the aircraft going in to Lake Harbour and smaller communities like Lake Harbour, a lot of aircraft that are being used are older models. I would like some consideration put into upgrading airports and airstrips.
I understand that part of this is the responsibility of the federal government, under the Arctic airports, but I would like to convey this message to the Department of Transportation. I want to know if our airport can be upgraded. We have asked for this before, for the future. I understand that in 1997 they are going to be upgrading the airport in Lake Harbour. But we have a lot of problems in our community now. When trying to get extra food for the community store; a lot of times the plane is not able to make it on time. As well, other goods are needed in the community, but because aircraft are too small, they are not able to carry all the goods and supplies that are needed for the community.
It is fortunate that we have not had any major accidents on our airstrip. Mr. Chairman, I will be asking for support to upgrade our airstrip in the near future. Sometimes, because, of the funding being cut, we think that we might not be able to get this airport and other airports in the communities upgraded. There is also the problem of passengers trying to make it home; sometimes they are not able to make it home on a certain flight because of the airstrip being too small.
I am concerned with Lake Harbour in particular and I just wanted to bring this up, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.