Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a few general comments before we get into the detail of the department. Again, I will start off with the subject that's high on my radar, and for my constituents in the riding of Kam Lake and in the city of Yellowknife, and that is to get the much needed access road into Kam Lake Industrial Park from Highway No. 3. I won't spend too much time on this, Mr. Chair, as I know the Minister and I have had discussions in the House as of late to the development of that road and the disposition of negotiations that are currently under way between the City of Yellowknife and the Department of Transportation. I will leave that there, but I just wanted to, while I have the chance, reiterate my support for negotiations moving forward and that road being constructed.

Public safety is the paramount concern in that, Mr. Chair. The other items that I wanted to touch on, I just wanted to back up the recommendation that the committee made, the state of Highway No. 3. It was completed just last year. Already there are noticeable dips and repairs that are required to that road. In fact, you could argue the fact about whether that road is better today than it was five years ago. I am not sure if lowering the speed limit would help, but the road and the condition it is in, if you are doing the speed limit and hit a dip on that road, it is unsafe. I think we certainly need to take a look at what it is going to cost down the road to maintain that road if, in fact, there are engineering flaws or whatever the case may be, poor construction or whatever, that needs to be seriously looked at.

I also have had discussions with the Minister in the House lately about the Ingraham Trail and the fact that the Government of the Northwest Territories has spent a

sizable amount of money, in the neighbourhood of $25 million if you go back 10 years and you look at what the monies that they are looking at spending into the next few years. That is a considerable amount of money. The Ingraham Trail is obviously home to many people who call the area home throughout the year, also cottages, lakes, parks, campgrounds. It is a well used road and highway here in Yellowknife. I guess some of the discussion goes back to the talk of connecting the communities in the Monfwi region and the Dogrib region and where a road to resources would come from. I maintain that, given the fact we have a 70-kilometre artery that we spent millions and millions of dollars on, it goes 70 kilometres northeast from Yellowknife, that road, if it does in fact at some point in time connect the communities in the Dogrib region, should come out of Yellowknife. I have asked the Minister about this in the past. When we get to the page in the detail on highways, I will ask him again. What is the government's position on where a road to resources would come from? I think that is an important first step if you are looking at accessing federal dollars which will be much needed in constructing a road like that.

I am supportive, as well, of a road down the Mackenzie Valley. I think that is a much needed and much called for road. Also the Tuk-Inuvik highway, Mr. Chair. We need to find money, too, to get that project completed.

Those are some of the highlights, Mr. Chair. I know the position growth in the department, the majority of it is a result of the situation with the ferries and the fact that positions were repatriated back to the Government of the Northwest Territories. So you can't say too much about that, but there are a couple of positions at the airport itself for the new baggage handling equipment and the conveyor system. I said this last year. I am not sure why we would need to have two dedicated individuals looking after that equipment specifically, and we couldn't have looked at contracting that service out on an as and when basis or whatever. I will leave it at that, Mr. Chair. Thank you.