The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

I will look at the project, Mr. Speaker, but I do have to take into consideration some others that I have been speaking to; Inuvik as an example and Fort McPherson as an example. I do need to take that into consideration. I am quite prepared to put the Hay River project on that list as well, but I have two or three that I want to ensure we consider. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question at this time will be directed to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Knowing our budget is before Members now and in the budget we see a number of facilities that deal with recreation in communities, I would like to know if the department now has a new policy regarding sport and recreation facilities in our communities. Thank you.

The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, no, we haven't developed any new policies on supplying new infrastructure to communities. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The reason I ask that question is in the community of Inuvik, the community council is preparing to build a new family centre. It's a recreation facility based on taxpayers raising a lot of the funds. I know the community had approached the Minister, they wrote him a letter, asking for any available funds. If there is no policy then, does he do this on a one-off situation? Thank you.

The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although MACA is funding some new sports and recreation facilities in non-tax-based communities, it is under the policy we have for supplying infrastructure to non-tax-based communities. Tax-based communities are funded through their block funding process. They have signed agreements that they are responsible for all their capital projects. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recall when those block funding agreements were first put in place, they also incorporated the capital plan that was existing for that community, so is that not the case anymore? All capital for recreation facilities is off the list for tax-based communities? Thank you.

The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not certain on that. I can take the request for information back to the department. I do know that I reviewed Inuvik's block funding with the department and I did notice that they signed in there that they would be responsible for their block funding. I also note in that particular recreational complex they have, we, in the past, assisted them with that. I believe it was $1.8 million on that particular building. So we did assist the community for that particular building. I do have a letter from the community, as the Member mentioned, requesting our assistance. I believe we are responding to that under our existing programs, other than for our sports and recreation program for which we have very limited money. That's the only program we have that we can assist the community with at this time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we know that at year end, sometimes there is money available in budgets around in the Northwest Territories, so I would like to know if the Minister would be willing to work with the community. They are not looking for a lot of money, but just helping to get this phase going. Would you be willing to work with them to see if there would be any funding at year end that they might be able to access? Thank you.

The honourable Minister of MACA, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am certainly willing to work with the community and the Member to see what we can do to assist the community, although I must put it on the table that we are very limited in our options right now, but we will certainly work with the community and the Member. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, in 2001, an aeronautical market study was commissioned by the government and the city of Yellowknife to look at a number of issues regarding the airport and its future potential of long haul flights and so on. I have since that time, recently set up a committee that will be a panel that will be taking a look at the various options and will be reporting back to me within the next couple of months, by May 31st with their recommendations. We don't, as a government, have a stand on whether we should have an airport authority or we shouldn't have an airport authority. That's a question that has been put to the table to look at the pros and cons of it. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So what is underway right now is essentially more a marketing or business development study? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.