Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a few general comments on the department. I'd like to speak a little bit about the Deh Cho Bridge permit and licensing fee, highway signage and YK airport authority. On the first point, Mr. Chairman, I just want to briefly comment that I'm happy with the progress that's being made on the Deh Cho Bridge project. I have been on record right from the beginning in the Assembly, for a permanent bridge over the Mackenzie River. I think it's quite remarkable that we're looking at entertaining, debating and deciding on legislation before the end of this Assembly. Obviously the details are going to be important, and through the process of debating it we will work them out. But I do believe that it is essential, and more essential now than ever before with the traffic that's travelling and the economic development projects that are happening, that we move forward with that as soon as possible.
I do believe that it is a crucial role of the government to build projects like that. In many ways, perhaps, this thing has been able to move forward as fast as it did because it's not really within the hands of the Assembly here. I don't mean that in a bad way, but it is really a work of various groups and governments coming together and making something happen. I know my colleague from the Deh Cho doesn't think that the Yellowknife MLAs agree with or support anything he does, but I want to let him know that I have been a supporter of this from the beginning and I will be until the end.
Mr. Chairman, another thing that I wanted to mention is something that the Minister mentioned in his statement. He speaks about the increase of permits and licensing fees due to the increased traffic on our highways. I think that's quite apparent. I've read it in the paper and I believe the Minister has indicated during our committee meetings, that the department will be taking over the motor vehicles licensing operation. I have had inquiries from my constituents in this regard, and I have a question about this. First of all, is it safe to assume that it's the increase in traffic that's increasing the revenue by $500,000, or it's going to be at $500,000? At the same time, I'm wondering if I could ask the Minister whether there have been additional resources put into that section, given the increased workload. Thank you.