Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, I do not want to make a debate of this, but the motion that was passed indicated that this paper should be brought to the standing committee, but also, that it should be discussed at session. So, it has already been sent to the committees, now the second part is to discuss it. I do not understand how the Premier believes that this is going against the statement. I would like him to explain that.

Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cabinet has approved the workplan, the amalgamation of the three departments. It has gone to Government Ops committee, and it will also go to all stakeholders. Once we get the advice from that committee, as well as, stakeholders through that committee, hopefully, when they have done their review of that, I am sure they will have some good recommendations to Cabinet. Then we will table it in the Legislative Assembly in January, and then move on to try to implement the amalgamation. Thank you.

Thank you. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Erasmus.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If this is going to be sent out to stakeholders, people can contribute, why are we being asked to pass supplementary appropriations for $58,000,000 transferring all kinds of money to various departments for user say/user pay? Is that not all related?

The question that has been asked is a new question, it has to do with user pay/user say. Has nothing to do with the amalgamation, would you like to have one supplementary with regard to amalgamation, Mr. Erasmus? Oral questions, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. It is a reflection of Mr. Barnabas' earlier question. Mr. Speaker, in the eastern arctic communities, especially in the winter time, people depended upon the air travel. Just about every community, and it is essential, Mr. Speaker, that the airports are maintained according to the regulations of the Ministry of Transportation. My question the Minister of Finance may want to answer it because of the financial implication in it. My question to the Transportation is, does the government have any reserve fund to replace equipment that breaks down during the maintenance of the airports. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. You have asked two ministers, you asked Mr. Todd, and you also made reference in your last sentence to the Minister of Transportation, so could you ...

Yes, thank you. As I indicated Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Transportation. Does the government or Department of Transportation have any equipment reserve fund in the system to replace equipment that is used for the maintenance of the airport in the system. Thank you.

The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation has a five year capital plan, and in there, there are different types of equipment that get into the system here, as the equipment wears out, new ones replace them such as graters or snowblowers and so on and so forth, so these types of equipment are in the system. However, if there are break-downs during the year, there are contingency funds within the department's operational maintenance budget to do these repairs.

For example, in Nanisivik Airport, where there is a real need to repair some of this equipment, we had to send extra mechanics to take a look at this equipment and repair them. At this point in time, we are looking at trying to determine the extent of the repairs that are required, and depending on, if it does not cost too much, then perhaps we could repair this equipment. So I guess, my answer to you, is that yes, there are some contingency funds for the maintenance of the airport. There is a little bit of flexibility there, so we could replace the equipment that breakdown during the winter months. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would ask the extension of the question period at the same time. My supplementary to the minister, Mr. Speaker is, what happens

if the equipment has a total breakdown, we cannot fix it. Is there any equipment reserve fund in the system of the Department of Transportation to replace equipment? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if in one of the communities in the north that a very important piece of equipment for maintaining an airport breaks down and is totalled, perhaps a grader or something, then we will try to seek funds within the department to repair the equipment or try to make other arrangements to make sure the maintenance of the airport is done, and if the cost is too high, we will probably have to move some funds around within the capital structure of the whole budget, so if it is under $250,000 then I do not have to notify anybody, but if it is above $250,000, I will have to notify Members that may be affected by such a move. Thank you.

So question period is over. Mr. Krutko.

You are requesting, you are not asking for unanimous consent. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. The member for Mackenzie Delta is seeking unanimous consent to go back to item 6 - Oral questions. Do we have any nays? There are no nays, we will go back to oral questions after we take a 15 minute break.

-- Break.

The Chair recognizes a quorum. Oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Kakfwi.