Mr. Chairman, one further question. Given that we have an economizing measure here of $84,000, then I would ask the Minister whether he could inform me whether any of the communities that had to close down the offices for licences and registration and those things... I'm assuming that we won't see the government stepping in and opening up these offices again, given that we're reducing the department's budget even more.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, no, we probably won't unless there is no other alternative and we find that's the only way of us doing it. In the case of Yellowknife, we had to do it because the person who had the contract asked to get out of it. We advertised and no one was interested. There was no other option except for us to open up an outlet.

Thank you. Mr. McLeod.

The exact same thing happened in the community of Fort Providence. The company that was providing the service asked to get out of the contract. It was advertised, nobody responded and I didn't see the government stepping in and opening up an office there. Instead, everything was shut down and pulled out of there. Why is there a different treatment for a small community versus, for instance, in Yellowknife?

Thank you. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, the issue in Yellowknife is volume. There are many people who are registering vehicles or renewing licences. In the case of Fort Providence, we don't have people in Providence who could readily take over that business within the Department of Transportation unless the grader operator starts selling them. I would really like to see if there is a way to have an existing business become interested in it. The amount we pay to an outlet is only about $8 a transaction, so it's not much. In a small community, it doesn't attract anybody. I will look at it, Mr. Chairman. If there is a way of doing it in small communities, then we want to have that service available wherever we can, but we would have a pretty bored person if we were just there waiting for someone to come in and get their motor licence or their driver's licence renewed. I will take it to the department and see if there is some other alternative.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, I was going to raise the issue of $8 per transaction, which is what the department is paying. That's the reason the office closed up in Yellowknife. It's the reason it closed up in Fort Providence. It's the reason it's going to close up elsewhere. Nobody is going to spend an hour or more working on a transaction for $8. Not in this day and age. I would like to ask the Minister if he would look at a couple of options, at least in the case of Fort Providence. We have a transportation clerk there. I am sure the person is very qualified and she would be able to assume some of this responsibility. If the volume is not there, it's not going to be an additional heavy workload. Either that or revisit what they are paying for a transaction in this area. It's far too low and it's just not acceptable. It should be obvious that if offices are closing all over the place, nobody wants to do it. I think the Minister has to take another look at raising the fees or, in the case of Fort Providence, giving the responsibility to one of the transportation clerks.

Thank you. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Chairman, those are good suggestions. Certainly I will take a look at it. If we can do it through the transportation clerk, that would be the best solution in my mind. In the meantime, we will also look at the issue of the amount that is being paid. It was never meant as a stand-alone business. I appreciate the suggestions from the Member. Thanks.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Road licensing and safety, negative $84,000.

Total department, not previously authorized, negative $2.295 million.

Page 19, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, corporate management, not previously authorized, negative $586,000.

Environmental protection, not previously authorized, negative $6,000.

Resource management and economic development, not previously authorized, negative $676,200.

Forest management, not previously authorized, negative $77,000.