Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the request of the municipality of Taloyoak in regards to their airport and the length of their airstrip. The honourable Member indicated to the House here that through the Transport Canada regulations now that the allowable usage of their airstrip is reduced substantially so that the full length of the airstrip is not allowed to be used. So, as a result the airstrip has been reduced. In the meetings that we had with the Senior Administration Officer last week, the meetings were very well put together. I think that the municipality is very seriously looking at what they can do to help the situation out.
At the conclusion of the meeting, my officials in the Department of Transportation were sitting with the representative of the municipality of Taloyoak to look at this situation a little closer to see what we could do in terms of planning in the future on how we could accommodate the request. I think it is possible to do so.
I said in earlier discussions there have been many requests along with the Taloyoak airport in the north for this Department to take a serious look at the airports and see how airports could be increased in length or upgraded. The total amount that we are looking at is quite substantial as a department. It is the time of fiscal restraint and we are going to be listening to the Minister of Finance introducing the budget next Monday and from there you will have an indication of what we are dealing with.
But in the mean time, specifically for Taloyoak, we are willing to look at it. I think we started off on the right foot last week with the type of commitment that the community is willing to put forward. That is all I can report on it at this time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.