Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Transportation concerning the lack of availability of aviation fuel in the Nunavut area.

Many pilots would fly north to visit the Arctic Circle and other areas if the AV fuel was more readily available. The GNWT could be losing potential tourism dollars as a result of the lack of said fuel.

Also, the usage of smaller planes in the Baffin region and other areas in the NWT is severely limited. This can pose very serious safety concerns.

Mr. Speaker, my questions to the Minister are:

1. Will the Minister investigate the possibility of a more even spread of locations that would have AV fuel available?

2. Has the Department of Transportation been made aware of possible safety concerns of the lack of AV fuel specific in the Baffin and generally in the NWT?

3. Will the Minister commit to having AV fuel made more easily available and that the required supply structure be in place by the fall of 1997 to meet sealift requirements?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.