This budget item deals with the bridge program that has been partnered with the federal government and G.N.W.T. Department of Transportation and has been in progress for a number of years. It addresses crossings of the creeks and rivers up in the Sahtu area, so it doesn’t include the ice roads up in the Beaufort-Delta.

Thanks for clarifying that. Where would the ice road funding come out of? I’m hoping it’s not Highway No. 8.

This section being “Capital” is actually for construction or infrastructure being put in place — for example, the bridges. The winter road construction would fall under O&M.

Item 7, Transportation, appropriation authority required: $39,415,000.

Transportation, $39,415,000 approved.

Industry, Tourism and Investment, appropriation authority required: $2,318,000.

Industry, Tourism and Investment, $2,318,000

approved.

Environment and Natural Resources, appropriation authority required: $1,765,000.

I see we have an expenditure plan for a lightning location system. At this time of fiscal restraint, I’m wondering if there is justification for that, what exactly it is, do we already have one in place, is this a replacement one, and what is to be gained by this?

I have to go to the Minister Responsible for ENR for detail on that project.

There is an existing system. The objective of this project is to maintain the current capacity of the G.N.W.T. Lightning Location System. To ensure its capacity, regular replacement of sensors and systems is required. For anybody who has been to the fire centre in Fort Smith, they have these sensors set up across the North that allow you to triangulate every lightning strike that hits the Territory to see where there is potential fire and determine how to respond. We provide information to ENR, to Power Corp, to Parks Canada, and in Alberta as well, where we have a Memorandum of Agreement. This is an existing system needing some upgrades, where the sensor cost is $52,000 and, of course, the proprietary software can cost anywhere between $75,000 and $100,000.

Mr. Bromley?

Nothing further, thank you.

I have a question in regard to the jet boat expense scheduled for Norman Wells. I wonder what the urgency is for this addition. I don’t believe it was in the ’07 – ‘08 main estimates. There is a jet boat for Behchoko that I gather was in the main estimates last year, but the one for Norman Wells was not. If I can get an explanation as to the urgency of this particular expenditure or if

it’s a safety issue. I don’t see prior expenditures, so it doesn’t seem to be a contract issue.

A number of these travel projects would fall under the department’s small capital allocations which would be bulked into a larger number but has come through in this as well for the detail. Environment and Natural Resources does patrol for illegal hunting, looking for potential spills in areas where work is occurring. They do have some older equipment that needs to be replaced from time to time. For specific details on this project, or this asset, I ask that we go to the Minister responsible, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Chairman, the intent of this project or capital is to replace the boat that is currently 13 years old with a 50-horsepower outboard. The preferred craft for this low-draft and silty water is a jet boat. This will be a 20-foot jet boat that will allow us to increase our capacity and range of enforcement and have that added safety on the water. The other thing I’m informed is that any repairs, given the age, almost exceed the cost of the current asset, so it’s not worth fixing.

I move that $85,000 be deleted from the interim appropriation detail booklet amount set out in Schedule 2, Capital Investment Expenditures, item number 9, Environment and Natural Resources on page 6, for the project “Lightning Location System.”

The motion is being

circulated. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Mr. Chairman, of all the projects there are a number that are essential, but the ability to have this lightning detection system that gives us early warning where there are forest fires allows us to mobilize sooner to better protect our communities and a lot of the assets that we have. These are a critical piece of infrastructure to be maintained, and I would ask the MLAs to consider that all of us, except my honourable colleague from Nunakput, live in the boreal forest and recognize the issue of forest fires. This is a very important piece, so I would ask that we consider that, because fire season is going to soon be upon us.

I hear the Hon. Member from across the floor, but I have to again state there is no indication in the materials and explanations that we have had, apart from his words just now, that indicates that this is an urgent item. I gather that the system is already there, and I understand that it needs to be upgraded but, again, my understanding

was that this interim appropriation was basically for items which were under contract, which were a safety measure or which were urgently required. I don’t know why this item can’t wait ‘til May or June.

Mr. Chairman, the motion calls for the elimination of this one project. We have to remind ourselves of the fire season. The further north you go, there may still be some snow, but in the southern parts of the Territory the environment does dry out sooner. If we start dealing with this later on in the season — in fact, we will be in full summer season, and we put crews in place the 1st of May — this area can be considered as an ounce of prevention, in a sense. If we are unable to properly see where lightning strikes are hitting in the Northwest Territories, it delays the reaction time for those areas that would be considered appropriate to fight fires. I again would encourage Members to think of that as we review this request.

Again, the information that might help on this motion would be: Is there a system that’s up and running quite capably right now? Where are the efficiencies? Presumably, if you know where a fire is, you can get to it earlier before it gets large, put it out, and save a lot of dollars. We haven’t heard that sort of information. I’m just trying to think of things that would help me decide on this.

Question has been

called.

Committee motion not carried.

Environment and Natural Resources, appropriation authority required: $1,765,000.

Environment and Natural Resources,

$1,765,000 approved.

Infrastructure Expenditure Appropriation, appropriation authority required: $110,096,000.

Infrastructure Expenditure Appropriation,

$110,096,000 approved.

I would have you turn to the Schedule on page 3. We’re on page 3 of the Schedule: Interim Amounts of Appropriation for 2008-2009 fiscal year, part 1, vote 1, Operations Expenditure.