Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the Pangnirtung airport, this one here is a very serious request. The reason why I am saying that it is serious is first of all the airport, as the honourable Member indicated, is in the middle of the community. As a result there is a safety concern for the pedestrians and the vehicles crossing the airstrip. Secondly, the length of the existing air strip is 2,900 feet, I understand, and the requirement of the air strip should be substantially longer. However, in 1993, in answer to the honourable Member's question, the Department had studied the possible relocation and upgrading of this airport and the Department had identified about five sites where this relocation could take place. At the same time the costs were analyzed with the construction of the airport at these sites. The cost to extend the runway from the 2,900 feet to the 3,500 feet was estimated to have cost a substantial... approximately $11 million. As the honourable Member knows, as well as members of the community know, the location to extend it would be very costly.
At the same time, the cost of the relocation of this airport would also be quite substantial, and it is also approximately $11 million in the estimation of the Department. In the analysis, the Department concluded that because of the fiscal situation, that kind of expenditure could not be justified at this time. The honourable Member makes reference to a letter that he received from the municipality requesting the relocation of this airport and our response from the Department of Transportation was that the high cost associated with this relocation of the airport, during these times of fiscal restraint, is pretty difficult to do and prohibits the government from committing to this project. At the same time, we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the airport infrastructure remains appropriate for use by the air couriers today. The Department has made significant improvements to the existing airport. We have recently completed the construction of the new airport terminal building and have scheduled the replacement of the airfield lighting system in the summer of 1997. Mr. Speaker, this is what the Department has done up to date. Thank you.