Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Finance. Mr. Speaker, what is the estimated figure for the incremental cost for division?

Minister of Finance, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wonder if I could get clarification on that? Is it our cost or the federal government's cost? Thank you.

Clarification, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I guess the total cost, and I'll have a supplemental on the percentage.

I think the clarification was the territorial government or the federal government. The total cost. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my honourable colleague knows, the NIC has prepared a proposal for both the territorial and federal governments and NTI. In that proposal, they've recommended a certain framework, certain size of departments and new PYs, et cetera, that would be associated with the development of a new Nunavut government.

The Premier and my office are currently assessing that report and trying to make an evaluation -- although we concur with some of the framework of the NIC report -- whether we concur with the PYs et cetera, and when that's done we will then be able to provide my honourable colleague what we believe will be a full costing associated with the division of the Territories. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what is the percentage or is there a framework in place for percentage to be paid by the GNWT? Let's say, for example, a 60/40 split or something like that with the federal government. What is the mechanism in place for that?

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think perhaps I could explain it this way for my colleague. There are incremental costs associated with division of the Territories. What is under discussion right now, which my honourable colleagues, Mr. Barnabas and the Premier, addressed earlier today, is the incremental costs associated with the division of the Territories. There is no clear figure at this time as to what it should or shouldn't be, but discussions are under way with respect to this important fiscal side of the division question. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Picco.

I understand that, Mr. Speaker. My question was and still is, is there a mechanism in place outlining how much of the total cost? Let's say the cost was $100 million. Would the GNWT be expected to pay $60 million of that, for example? I would like to see in these tough fiscal times, what the amounts would be owed by this government.

Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What has to happen is under the new division of the Territories there have to be two formula financing agreements arranged, and that would have to be discussed with the present government and the future two new governments that will evolve after April 1, 1999.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the honourable Minister of Transportation. Because of the shortness of the runway in Taloyoak, the type of aircraft that is facilitated by that runway in that community is restricted, thereby making air service to the community costly for that community. Sometime along the road, Mr. Speaker, since the regulations are getting tougher -- in this case the Transport Canada regulations, perhaps they will impose stricter regulations some time in the future -- as a result, the community may not be able to get the kind of service it is getting now. What is the status of the government plan to extend the runway in Taloyoak?

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Minister of Transportation, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Taloyoak airstrip has been stated by the hamlet to be too short to accommodate a certain type of aircraft. They do have aircraft service there now, but they are requesting the airstrip to be extended so they could have bigger and faster airplanes coming into their airport. I understand the concern by the Member.

At the present time, the department hasn't any plans at all to extend the airstrip. However, the department is looking into this particular request. They are looking at the numbers. In light of the budget restraint we are under, it is very difficult to say we are going to do it at the present time. Perhaps after a further review, there might be a way of doing it in the future. At the present time, it isn't in the plans.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated, Transport Canada regulations are getting tougher and tougher, the runway in Taloyoak can only facilitate a minimum of air service and the only mode of transportation in that area is by air, except for snow machine. Given the possibility of Transport Canada putting more restrictions on the length of runways and the type of aircraft being used, will the honourable Minister seriously consider making a plan to extend the runway in Taloyoak? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member made reference to Transport Canada in the development of Canadian aviation regulations. For that particular concern, which is expected to come into force in June of 1996, this is a great concern to myself and the department. Under the regulations, aircraft will have to be able to abort take off and come to a full stop. On landing, the aircraft will have to be able to come to a full stop using only 60 per cent of the available runway service. This, Mr. Speaker, is of great concern to all of us here, since the majority of the communities in the North are primarily serviced by airports. The department does not anticipate that this new regulation will have a large or immediate impact on scheduled air services or the airport system in the Northwest Territories.

We intend to conduct a detailed comparison of runway length at all the airports, with the types of aircraft most commonly used by these airports. This analysis will identify where problems may arise. Mr. Speaker, as for the particular concern of the honourable Member for the community in question, we know this airstrip is a certain length and there is a desire by the hamlet and people in the community to have it extended. We are aware of the concern there and we are looking into this particular concern.

However, under the particular budget restraints we are under, it isn't in the immediate plans to do any work into extending this airstrip. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Ningark.