Thank you, Madam Chair. I am pleased to present the Department of Public Works and Services main estimates for the fiscal year 2004-05.

The estimates propose a department operations and maintenance budget for 2004-2005 of $44.6 million and a capital acquisition plan of $2.9 million. This is a one percent increase over the 2003-2004 main estimates.

These resources will be used to provide critical support services to departments and communities including:

• • Operations and maintenance of infrastructure;
• • Technical support in the provision of community drinking water;
• • Management of capital construction projects;
• • Safety and inspection services;
• • Leasing of government offices;
• • Provision of records management services; and,
• • Monitoring and intervention in northern national telecommunications proceedings.

The department also manages an additional $118 million on behalf of its clients through a number of revolving funds, chargebacks and capital transfers. Through the use of these funds, the department provides:

• • Computer and data communication services for government offices throughout the territory;
• • Fuel services for 15 communities; and,
• • Renovation and construction of critical territorial and community infrastructure.

As other departments work to achieve government objectives by delivering direct services to our residents, Public Works and Services provides necessary technical and professional support to those departments. In particular, Public Works and Services Works closely with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to support the provision of services to community governments. The department provides its technical expertise throughout the process of planning, designing, construction and operating community water systems. Similarly it assists with the technical assessment of community facilities and is frequently called upon to manage and design the construction of new facilities. The department also works with communities to identify granular requirements and develop plans for management of the available resources.

There are many examples of the kind of support Public Works and Services provides to departments as they work to achieve an appropriate balance between:

• • The expectations of our residents for high quality services;
• • The practical constraints of operating in our difficult northern environment; and,
• • The limitations of our current budgets.

I would like to take a moment to mention a few of these services in more detail.

Many successful building and infrastructure projects are taken for granted, but I would like to mention some of the more recent ones:

• • The new community office building in Trout Lake;
• • New water intakes in Fort Providence;
• • The new academic building for Aurora College in Inuvik;
• • Renovation of the health centre in Holman;
• • Expanded fuel storage facilities in Tsiigehtchic and Wha Ti;
• • The new water treatment system in Tsiigehtchic;
• • And repairs to the reservoir in Jean Marie River.

All of these are important community, regional and territorial facilities that will contribute in a positive way to achieving the government's long-term objectives. Public Works and Services is part of the team responsible for delivering those projects.

The department also provides information systems and communication services for use by the government. More and more, the ability of the government to provide services to northern residents is dependent upon the availability of secure and reliable information and communication systems.

Another important role for this department is to be a key member of the GNWT team responsible for ensuring the quality of community drinking water. Working closely with the departments of Health and Social Services, Municipal and Community Affairs and Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Public Works and Services provides technical support for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of community water systems.

Finally, I would like to mention the provision of essential fuel services. Through the petroleum products revolving fund, Public Works and Services funds the provision of heating fuel and gasoline in communities where a commercial operation does not exist. This includes providing safe tank farms in these remote locations as well as contracting with and training local fuel delivery agents to provide the services. These agents have an important function in their communities and PW & S works with them to carry out this important service.

Public Works and Services continues to strive to be responsive to its many clients and to provide a high level of support to departments and the people of the NWT. The budget that we are reviewing today will contribute to achieving this objective.

That concludes my opening remarks. Thank you, Madam Chair.