Minister of MACA.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a hold has been put on any further changes to the water and sewer subsidy program until such time as the department evaluates what happened as a result of that initial change that took place last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last year before the Minister now responsible took over, we made some changes to the water and sewer subsidy program. I know the Standing Committee on Finance asked that this subsidy program be delayed until we have a full evaluation of it. Is that one of the reasons the Minister and the government are now holding off on changes to the water and sewer subsidy program? Thank you.

Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, that is one of the primary reasons, Mr. Speaker. As well, the department wanted to assess what financial impact these changes had to the municipalities and the businesses out there. So until such time as that is done, there won't be any further changes to the existing policy.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister a further question. We had made some changes some months ago and there is definitely an impact on the private consumers as well as the commercial consumers. Can the Minister tell the House what type of impact the initial changes to the water and sewer subsidy program have in the north? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department heard initially from some private business operators about the impact the changes had. They basically decreased the level of subsidy available to commercial businesses, to a small extent. But as far as the dollars and cents, Mr. Speaker, I don't have that information. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Final supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. The last information I had about the subsidized commercial rates to communities was that effective June 1st, 90 per cent rather than 100 per cent of the water and sewer consumption by commercial users will be subsidized. Is the Minister telling us that that's all changed and that's on hold until the subsidy has been done? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The change to the water and sewer subsidy program that took place last year is in effect now, and there won't be any further changes to the change that was put into effect last year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ng. hem 6, oral questions. If there's nobody new, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Transportation. Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Transportation made an announcement with respect to the Arctic A airports transfer agreement on the accomplishment he has made with respect to the transfer with the federal government of Arctic A airports.

First of all, I commend him on such a successful process with respect to this transfer agreement. But I would like to ask him, Mr. Speaker, whether or not he can give us some indication how this will affect Arctic A airports in the north? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We are, as I said earlier in this session, optimistic that the current levels of funding that we have managed to negotiate will permit us to maintain the current levels of services that are currently provided. It's not the department's intention to see any significant change in the current levels of services provided at these nine Arctic A airports.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell,

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since he indicated that the communities wouldn't appear to see any significant change, can he indicate to this House whether or not this transfer agreement of Arctic A airports will have any affect on PYs in the regions or in the communities where this transfer is effective? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Again, Mr. Speaker, as I said, it's our hope and our intention to maintain the current levels of services. I am optimistic. As I said, they are still working out the day-to-day details of taking over the Arctic A airports. July 1st is the sign-off date. I am confident and optimistic that we will be able to maintain the jobs, the levels of services and, in fact, because we will be able to integrate all the expertise that is sitting in the nine Arctic A airports into our B and C airports, we are even optimistic that we will be able to harness a whole bunch of expertise that we haven't had in the past. So it should actually make our operations oven more effective than they currently are. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Todd. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister mentioned the different levels of airports. Currently, I know our regional people at the community level, even though we have an Arctic A airport, also look after B and C airports. So will they continue with the responsibility of look is after the B and C airports? Thank you.