Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a few years ago the Perry Building in Inuvik was closed down because of some structural concerns. I'd like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services, what's the status of the Perry Building right now? Is it occupied? Do they plan to occupy it? Thank you.

The honourable Minister responsible for Public Works and Services, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are still occupying the Perry Building, but because it's unsafe and whatnot we are only using the first floor of the facility because of structural concerns. We are looking at doing a feasibility study to look at the possibility of other space that may be required, so we are doing a feasibility study now and hopefully we'll have it completed by March.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if the building is deemed unsafe, why is the first floor occupied? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we did have to vacate the third and second floor because of weight restrictions, but the only floor that is usable at the present time is the lower floor and that is only being used by the Department of Public Works at this time. Hopefully once we complete the feasibility study and look at the functional review of what office space is going to be needed, where we are going to have to locate people, once we complete that report, we are hoping to have a better idea of where we go with the office requirements in Inuvik.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As part of their functional review, would the Minister speak to the WCB Minister about having WCB build their new office complex in Inuvik? We do have tenants for them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, until we complete the review and look at the possibility of what is needed and which departments are there, it is an option we can look at and I believe it's something I will bring back to the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back in October, I had questions for the Minister of Transportation about the Yellowknife Airport runway extension. In response to that, the Minister sent me three copies of the aeronautical market study for the Northwest Territories about the airport extension. I am not sure if he didn't think one would do; he sent me three copies. That being said, what is the strategy now in place for the airport extension from 7,500 feet to 10,000 feet? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am sure glad the Member read all three copies that we sent him. The strategy is we don't actually have a long-term strategy; however, we are looking at the business case, Mr. Speaker, and if there is an actual business case to accommodate such a lengthy extension to the Yellowknife Airport, then we will pursue it. I will just add, in the Yukon, because of the proximity to Alaska and other international markets, they were able to build it. That's something this government cannot pursue right now, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, the Minister just took my line; if they build it, they will come. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister agree today to work on developing a strategy that will work towards building the extension to the Yellowknife Airport? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our department is working with the Department of ITI to look at the business case of potential market opportunities associated with this. At this point, the numbers just aren't there to extend our runway and the people coming in, there just aren't enough of them. In fact, our infrastructure out there just cannot accommodate the 747s because of their height and the amount of pumping pressure that the fuel trucks will need to provide for them, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Noting I have two extra copies, I would encourage the Minister to have one of mine. I think the copy he sent me was the business case to build an extension of the runway. So I would again ask the Minister, looking at it as not a yes, but would he agree today in this House to develop a strategy so we could work on getting an extension to the Yellowknife Airport runway?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There can and would be substantial argument for the extension of the runway and we continue to work on a strategy to look at an extension of the airport. Mahsi.