Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest yesterday to Mr. Krutko's comments regarding the budget for Highways No. 3 and No. 4. Today, I want to ask the Minister of Transportation if he could tell me what the formula is when deciding on an allocation of funds to the different access roads in the North, what is the methodology that they use? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the main criteria used in determining how to allocate our transportation roads budget, of course, is the condition of the roads and the traffic. In some situations, we have funding that comes from the federal government that is earmarked for specific purposes, for example, the national highway system, so we have to use it on those roads in those cases. Generally, it is condition and traffic.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last year I did some research and I got information from the Department of Transportation regarding traffic volumes, accidents. When I got the information on the traffic volumes, there was a disclaimer on it stating that we could not hold the information as very accurate because the counters do not always work.

I am curious to know. I have several communities that have access roads. One of them that is in dire need of funding is the Hay River Reserve. I would like to know where it is in terms of priority when it comes to access road funding. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, starting in this current fiscal year, the Department of Transportation has made a special allocation for access roads into smaller communities, even though the traffic counts may not be that high, there may not be a history of a lot of accidents and so on, but a feeling and a belief that the communities need good access as well.

The allocation of money to various access roads or highways will be determined in time for the main estimates for next year, and we will follow through on the regular budgeting process. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

-- Technical Difficulties

...wait a couple of seconds here. Okay, we seem to be back on. Mr. McLeod, repeat your question. We had a bit of a problem there.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in the House, the comment was made that there are no dollars for expenditures on highways outside of three and four. I would like to ask the Minister if he could confirm that there will be dollars for the access roads to the smaller communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for the Department of Transportation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as we prepare the main estimates then we will look at the allocation of all money for all departments. I cannot say with 100 percent certainty, but I can say with practically 100 percent that there is going to be money for roads that are in need and this includes access roads. I cannot say -- how much of each road, or where it is going to be spent, that is a decision that has to be made as we prepare the main estimates. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I asked some questions about Paramount Resources and the questions were directed to Mr. Antoine. I would like to direct my questions today to the Minister for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

They deal with the work going on at Cameron Hills with Paramount Resources. As you know, Mr. Speaker, Hay River is benefiting somewhat from the work that goes on there with Paramount. I was wondering if the Minister could inform the House if he is aware of the level of work that Paramount is looking at this winter and where they are in their permitting and licensing for this winter. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. The question has been taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I allowed until November 1st for nominations, that is the end of this week. As soon as I have all of the nominations we will review them. I will be making a recommendation to Cabinet as soon as possible, I expect by mid-November to the third week of November, somewhere in there, we should have a new board in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the decision to withdraw the previous board, another one of the concerns we raised in our discussion was the whole idea of appointing and removing boards. Is that something that is also going to be coming forth? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, my apologies but I missed the last of that question and the end of the question.