Thank you. Mr. Krutko.

It would be good to get a copy of that study to see how he came up with the $378,000. The point I am trying to get at is, will there be ongoing costs associated with this and, if there are, would that be put into the main estimates so it will show up in the capital expenditures by community so we know this is an ongoing cost? As I mentioned in the past, there has been almost $2 million spent on shoreline erosion and I think the problem is going to get worse before it gets better. This is not only affecting Tuk, it's affecting other communities in the Delta. We are seeing the effects of global warming. My concern is this could be a major expenditure of government and we have to be prepared and plan for it. It would be good to see what that engineering report says and where it came from. I would like to know, from that study, are we sure this is all the money that's going to be needed to do the shoreline erosion restoration program of $378,000 or are we talking about ongoing funding?

Thank you. Minister Steen.

Madam Chair, there are two points here. One is, the reason why it didn't show up in the budget is because this is a process that the department has the option of doing. This funding was originally earmarked from capital expenditures and it was through capital projects within the community. The community did not make the expenditure this year, so they are requesting that MACA take this from capital and put it into O and M. However, they originally had $400,000. They spent some of that on an engineering study on the solid waste site, so that only left $378,000. That is why we have the particular number of $378,000.

The engineering study that was recently done on behalf of the hamlet had a number of options. One, which the community would probably never accept, is that they relocate. They did not accept that recommendation and there were other recommendations to try different options for shoreline erosion control. I think that one of the specifics the report suggested was that we either do $500,000 quick and fast and see how that works or you do $100,000 at a time. The hamlet at the time couldn't afford the $500,000 option, so they requested the $100,000 a year option. Now if they receive this funding this year, the $378,000, they will be giving up the option of requesting extraordinary funding at $100,000 a year for future. That's the deal they are making. They won't be back here looking for $100,000 a year through MACA for the next four years. That's the option they preferred. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Steen. I have on my list Mr. Lafferty next.

Thank you. I believe the Member is directing the question to Minister Handley.

Thank you. Yes, this is a regular practice. If there is a surplus in a fiscal year in an area, whether it's capital or O and M and there is no need for it, it would go back into general revenue, but if there is a surplus and we've identified a need that is considered to be an emergency, then that money could be used for this sort of situation. What we are doing here is consistent with practice and our rules.

Thank you, Minister Handley. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. Minister Handley.

The solid waste site study was a recent study that was done, December 2002. That is the study on the solid waste site. The hamlet, to my knowledge, has not made a decision on the use of that solid waste site. They, I believe, are meeting March 19th to review that situation. So this money here is surplus for the fiscal year and we have an urgent need to use it for another purpose. The process we are following here is the correct process. Where we have that need, we bring it back to the Legislative Assembly through the supp process. This is a recent study. Don't mix it up with the other studies that have been done on the shoreline erosion project. That's a different matter. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. Mr. Handley.

Madam Chair, the study was completed in December. By the time the government received the study and looked at it, the main estimates would have been printed. The committees met in January on it, but it was too late to build it into the business plans at that point. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. Minister Handley.

Madam Chair, I will refer that to the Minister of Public Works and MACA. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister Steen.

Thank you. The study was done by Public Works with a consulting firm on behalf of the hamlet and MACA.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Lafferty.