Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chairman, we are creating 23 positions again. It's going to add to our budget in terms of different regulations that we followed. The dollars keep going up and we keep saying to our people we have no money, we have no money to fix things. I don't know. That's enough of my frustrations. The Minister knows and the department knows. Has there ever been a discussion on a ferry service from Wrigley to the Sahtu and using that road back and forth once a week? Has anyone thought about that in the department about having a service like that in our region? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think I will just clarify the 23 positions that were stated in my opening remarks. Not all 23 positions are for our ferry services. Out of the 23, 10 positions were associated with the repatriation of the Fort Simpson and Fort Providence ferries, as well as seven positions new this year are apprentices. Four positions are heavy equipment operators for the expansion of our winter services, one position was added to the Yellowknife Airport due to the increased size of the passenger terminal building and one position has been added to the Fort Simpson Airport. I hope that clarification is good enough for the Member, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Just for clarification, my understanding is that there are six first mates and four ferry workers out of Fort Simpson out of 23, so that's 10 workers. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My last question is to the Minister in terms of the question I asked him. Has the department considered, in terms of future operations as a cost analysis or looking at an option of having ferry service from Wrigley to one of the Sahtu communities to bring vehicles? There are over 60 vehicles in Tulita right now. A lot of people would like to go down south and go out on holidays. It cuts down the cost on airfare for huge families. In the Sahtu, we have huge families there so it costs lots of money. They have a lot of vehicles. So has the department given that type of consideration in terms of what it would cost, or what they can do to provide that type of service to our region? Certainly they could have some kind of discussion. That's what I want to ask for the people there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Member brings up a good question that probably many of his constituents have been asking, is how do we continue our journey when there is no road. The department has taken a look at such an issue, but the Department of Transportation is not in the passenger business. In fact, we looked at a hovercraft idea and it's just not a cost-effective way of doing business in that passenger service, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chairman, I beg to differ on that issue here. The Sahtu does need a ferry, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman...(inaudible)...during the summer because of the way things are set up. I think the department needs to re-examine the need to have a ferry service in our region that can provide other benefits, cheaper groceries. Everything is being flown in. It's an isolated community. Nobody travels by road. We have to put our trucks on NTCL barges on their schedule, or Cooper Barging. That should be something that should be looked at. I would ask the Minister if he would give it some consideration and he may come back with the same answer next year.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Once again, the department has looked at it and it wasn't a cost-effective way of providing passenger services. But there are other options out there. I encourage the Member to look at them. There is barging, river taxis and air that equally accommodate transporting of freight up to his region. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Chairman, thank you. I move we report progress.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order. The motion is not debatable. I shall stand and report progress. No, all those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Thank you, committee. I will rise and report progress. I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses for coming down today. We shall continue tomorrow. Sergeant-at-Arms, escort the witnesses out, please. Thank you.

Report of Committee of the Whole. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 21, Appropriation Act 2007-2008, and Committee Report 8-15(5) and would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod. The motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 22, 2007, at 11:00 a.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 18:01.