Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the Main Estimates the airport is known as the Tuk Airport. About four years ago it was changed to the James Gruben Regional Airport, so that’s what I’m speaking to.

In regard to the position at the regional airport, the airport manager’s position, it worries me that the oil companies have three to four helicopters based out at Tuk. We have daily scheduled flights plus numerous charters for the oil and gas and local businesses.

In regard to the issue of this position, the length of our runway is 5,000 feet, and we’re capable of landing a 737. I would not like to see that affected for so little money and savings.

In my riding everybody likes to talk about this pipeline, but everybody forgets where the oil and gas is going to come from. It’s in my riding. With the pipeline boom, once it goes, it’s going to be busy — not so much in Tuk in regard to the actual construction phase but with the filling of that pipeline with the offshore drilling.

I think this is a really important position in the community in regard to the safety of my people, and I really wish the Minister would take that into consideration.

I’d ask my other colleagues if they’d like to speak on that, and I’ll come back to you.