Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some doubts about your statistics because, especially in Aklavik, you have two or three scheduled services going there daily and also, you have double the population of Holman Island in Aklavik. So population-wise, it is twice its size and also traffic-wise, it is probably three or four times as much traffic per day compared to what you get in Holman Island.
The other areas, I do not know if you took into your account, but with the oil and gas developments, they are looking at some 1600 jobs that are going to be needed for those developments and a large portion of that, I see, coming out of Aklavik, which will increase the activity and the usage of that airport.
The other question that I raised earlier is the whole foundation of that building, because of the concerns that have been raised in the past with pilings and what not in that structure, and I have seen reports that have been done, in which they have done an assessment of that building and the electrical and having to bring it up to code and what not. The cost exceeded the question about having to replace it, because once you do any renovation on that building, you will have to bring it up to code in a lot aspects, where the cost of that is unforeseen and when you do that, it does cost you a lot more in the long run.
So, for myself, I believe there is a need for a bigger building. Statistically, your argument does not fly, with using Holman as comparable to Aklavik. So I am saying again, that I think there is a requirement that is greater in Aklavik, in regards to the size of the facility that is there now. A lot of times, I have flown into Aklavik, where you cannot even get into the building. You have to stand outside in the wintertime and wait for the plane to show up.
If you say that from the records of traffic going in and out of that building, I am wondering, you are not getting any records because the thing has always been closed. Especially with the conditions in the Arctic, you should, at least, have some arrangement that you do have accessibility to the building, especially for people that do travel in and out.
There, again, I have concerns in that area, especially where I see traffic increasing with the oil and gas industry and also that the population of Aklavik is somewhere in the area of 900 people. Where are we going to be in ten years?
Your statistics are based on 1984. I think you are probably talking about half the size of the population that is there now. Because of the time it was built, based on that statistic, I think your department should make an attempt to replace this building, knowing there will be a major increase in activity in that area and the demand for that is going to be greater than possibly anywhere else in the Delta. The community in the Delta that is the most isolated is Aklavik.
Again, I will ask the Minister if he will consider replacing this building in consideration of the other factors?