Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we have had a lot of concerns and debate in regard to how communities are being served, especially when you look at the community infrastructure. One of the main means of transportation and movement of goods and services, and also the concern of public safety, was the area of roads and infrastructure in our communities. I think that as a government, we have to do something to ensure we improve the infrastructure in our communities by way of a project or what not.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move a motion.

Do you have a motion, Mr. Krutko?

We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The question I would have in this area of non-tax-based municipalities with a population greater than 500 residents located on Northwest Territories highway systems, municipalities such as Inuvik, where there are paved roads funded mainly by taxpayers, I am wondering what the process would be in something like this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. To the motion. Mr. Krutko.

Just in response to the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, this project, in my eyes, is doable. I think we have two departments who have the expertise in-house to deal with it. I think the communities are not saying they will not contribute. I think the communities can contribute by way of gravel or support from the community, either through hamlet equipment or labour or what not.

This is a project that, as far as I can see, is long overdue. I am talking about communities that are on our present highway systems. I do not think there are too many of those communities who have a population over 500. I think we are talking about communities like Fort Resolution, maybe Fort Providence, Fort McPherson, Rae-Edzo.

For us doing this, I think it sets an example to the Northwest Territories and to our tourists who come into our communities that we do have something to offer. If someone is on their way to Inuvik, that we have decent streets and they do not go back south and say "Do not drive up the Dempster Highway because there is nothing but mud and potholes and you will be eating dust all the time."

I think that we have to improve our communities in some manner. I think this project is doable in the context that we have the Department of Transportation that presently has the people in place to deal with paving and maintaining highways and roads. They do have equipment. We have the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs who have a responsibility and they have experience within the larger centres.

In my view, we have tried a compromise in this resolution by allowing the other communities to realize we are not talking every community in the Northwest Territories. We are talking about the larger communities in the context of a population over 500 and also, you have to be connected to the highway system in the Northwest Territories. So because of that, I think this is doable.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. To the motion. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. To the motion. Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just feel I have to correct my colleague for North Slave. There is no pavement or maintenance done by Transportation down the main road of Inuvik. In fact, the by-pass road is still gravel. Airport road, mind you, is paved and maintained by Transportation, but that is not the main street down the community. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

-- Applause

We are on cap-7, regional operations, total regional operations, $4,718,000. Mr. Krutko.

I am looking at the Deep Water Lake Project, Fort McPherson, for this year. You have $125,000, but knowing there have been some major difficulties getting this project off the ground, there have been some mechanical problems with regard to the vehicles. Also, the question of infrastructure, ensuring we have garaging and a place to store these vehicles, instead of having them parked outside when it is 40 below and seeing these vehicles freeze up.

I would like to ask the Minister exactly, is that amount realistic, considering all the situations that we are now being faced with? There are unforeseen situations that we now finally realize that because of the project being brought online in the middle of winter, now there is going to be an increased cost associated with garaging and maintenance of the vehicles. Also, there has to be some improvements regarding the wear and tear on those vehicles. Is that amount in this $125,000?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I will defer that to Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Murray.

Thank you, Mr. Murray. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The deputy minister mentioned that there have been carryovers. Is that carryover coming from the original estimate of the $3,363,000? Is that the carryover or is that over and above the $125,000?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Murray.