Mr. Chairman, the Member's made a number of points that I'd like to respond to. First of all, I guess, I'd like to give reassurance to the Member that we made several submissions to the federal government and we will continue to follow through on these initiatives, working with some of our colleagues in other jurisdictions on the initiative to make the Mackenzie Valley road from Wrigley to Tuk a reality, and also to follow through what we're hoping is going to be a new initiative program, and we're waiting to see where that will fall out in terms of this new government continuing to bring it forward or not. Either Corridors for Canada II, which is a short-term request for additional monies, and additional monies on a short term is just to look at upgrading and continuing the work that we've already started with our Corridors for Canada initiative. We've applied for more money through a second document, $162 million, and this includes money for more of the bridge work, more of the grade work and things of that nature to extend the season. So we're quite a ways yet from building an all-weather road and we certainly commit to having those discussions with the people from the Sahtu to let them know where we're at and what's included in those plans.

With the safety issue of the Mackenzie Valley winter road, it's something that we've talked on a number of occasions with the Member and have discussed ways of how to try to deal with that. We started putting signs up. We've committed to putting 600 signs on the Mackenzie Valley winter road. This is our second year of doing so. Over the last winter season, or I guess the summer season, a few of our signs came down because of frost heaving, but we've put all those up and put it in properly, and we'll continue to work on that.

We plan to have our highway patrol go in as many times as they did last year. We also will be having our highway patrol going with the Transport Canada people and do inspections on dangerous goods. So there's a number of things we're going to be doing to ensure that the safety factor is there on the Mackenzie Valley different road. We've also incorporated a speed limit for that road, so there is now the ability for the RCMP to go in and also for them to stop and charge people for speeding.

The regional office is something that we've moved away from. It was a request that came forward several years ago. We've looked at it. The system we have in place now is very cost-efficient, it is working well. In terms of having enough work for staff to be in the region year round is something we're very challenged to be able to get them to have enough work that will keep them busy year round. So it would either mean leaving our office unoccupied for a portion of the year, or reduce staff, or find additional tasks for our people to do. So we're still looking at it and it's not something that's high on the agenda, but it's something that we're going to have to be able to demonstrate to our Cabinet colleagues that it's something we need to do and we've got enough work there.

Regarding the Colville Lake shelter at the airport, there was a shelter at the airport. We moved it out of there. We got rid of it because it was vandalized and destroyed. We are now doing some work at the airport. We're extending the apron and the parking. So we will now take another look at it and some if we can, at some point, replace that facility and look at a facility that maybe will be a little more durable or something of that nature.