Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Absolutely, providing programming and particularly this programming to the smaller communities is certainly a priority. I'm not too sure why there was no uptake by the Member's riding in the past, but it's available to all communities and all they have to do is ask, Madam Chair, and put in their application and work with the regional superintendent of their particular region in developing their proposals. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, sometimes the communication breaks down between the communities and the regional superintendent, and breaks down between headquarters, so it's a human error sometimes and sometimes we overlook and sometimes we don't know why these applications don't get filled out. That's the reason why I urge the Minister in terms of the regional superintendents of marines...I don't know who the regional superintendent of marines is in our region. Who is the head of marine operations in our region? That's why I asked him if he could come into our region or have the superintendent of some government department take on this responsibility and come and sit with us. I know it's a little bit different in other regions and they are more successful than us. So I'm asking the Minister of Transportation, the regional superintendents of marine operations, how do we get them into our region?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The person responsible for this funding is the superintendent that's located in Fort Simpson. Once again, it's a community-based application. If the community wants it, all they have to do is indicate that they want to and we'll work towards achieving their projects. It's another one of these scenarios where we don't want to be seen coming into a community and saying, here, you built a boat launch and here's the money. They have to want it, and ask for it, and develop the proposal which best fits their community. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. Madam Chair, I'm taking the Minister's advice and I'm saying we need these boat launches in our regions right now. Because I'm talking from Tulita, people from Tulita and saying that they're asking for this. Of course the head office, or regional office, the head of marine offices is in Fort Simpson. That's why I keep asking, let's have some regional people in our region and I don't think their coming into our region and saying here's a boat launch. I think provide the information to us, get us going on the application. Have some presence in our communities. I think that's what I'm asking for. I hope the Minister's not taking my comments as coming in and bullying us and strong-arming us to have a dock. We want a dock. Good Hope wants a dock. I only have two knees. We can't get down any further. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I hear the Member's concerns and we'll work towards working with those communities to develop their proposals for their community marine infrastructure. Once again, we're not exactly limited to the $50,000 that's in this line item. There's the $439,000 in actuality and that's, I believe it's a flow-through from Canadian Coast Guard to assist with communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next I have Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd just like to follow up on this section here. As you all know, Tuk has been having a really bad problem with erosion on the west side and also on the north side around the sand pit. We've been very lucky for the last few years that the rocks, the...(inaudible)...rocks that's been put on the west side has been working very well. One of the areas that's of concern yet is the sand pit area where when you get a big west wind, especially on the north side of the sand pit where you get a big west wind, they still have problems with the sand pit eroding with the strong winds that come up. So seeing only $120,000 that's identified for this area here, I'm just wondering if there's emergency funding that would be available from the department should the community need it to better protect the sand pit area? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The Member is, of course, expressing a concern over the protection of his community and the erosion of the waterfront area that's happening there. But in actuality it's in the past our Municipal and Community Affairs department has been addressing those concerns and they're the ones that establish the line there, and I believe it's a rip raft that's on the shores there, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you. I understand; I'm just wondering, though, can the department, would the Department of MACA, you know, provide any funding available if there is a need for that because I'll tell you right now that sandpit is eroding pretty quickly here. I'm just wondering, can you work with the Department of MACA should the need arise? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. We'll certainly convey the Member's concerns and do what we can to assist them with that important matter. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Anything further, Mr. Pokiak?

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's good to hear that. But can there be any action coming out of it, like I said, if the need arises?

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Menicoche.

I'm not too sure what the Member's getting at there, Madam Chair, but, once again, we'll convey the concerns over to MACA and work with them where we can to continue to protect the shore of the community of Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'd just like to thank the Minister for that. I'll continue to work with this anyway. I'm just wondering, Madam Chair, if this might fall

into this department, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Madam Chair, we all know that the Canadian sovereignty is a big issue now, both with the federal government and maybe with the territory here. I'm just wondering, the Canadian Coast Guard does have a marine facility in Tuk, plus NTCL, but I'm just wondering if the department can work with the Coast Guard to see if they can promote the Canadian Armed Forces to consider a marine base in Tuk? Thank you.