Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the airports in the Sahtu have gotten the majority of the attention the last number of years, where we’ve relocated the airport in Deline in which they got a brand new airport which is upgraded and been extended from its original length. The same thing applies to Fort Good Hope. Then this last summer work was completed in Tulita in regard to the extension there. I believe, Mr. Speaker, there was work done looking at the other airports in the Northwest Territories. I know the issue in regard to Colville has been raised in this House where the department has committed to relocating that airport. The issue in regard to Trout Lake, that has been addressed before committee and also in this House.
I believe the department is clear in regard to where their commitments are and as the standing committee that oversees this, they are taking those issues seriously. There are other communities that are out there that are in the same boat. I think, as government, we have to realize that we have a federal regulation that we have to apply for and it’s not just the three or four airports; it’s all airports in the Northwest Territories that we have to bring up to a certain standard within a short timeframe.
So I think if we’re going to continue to focus on those airports that have already received the majority of the attention, a lot of the capital dollars have been expended already on new airports for those particular communities. I do not support this motion on the basis that there are other urgent needs out there, other communities, and I think we have to realize that we only have so many dollars to go around. I think from the communities, you know, I do support the efforts in Jean Marie and in regard to Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake where we realize that those communities depend on relocating their airports and upgrading their airports because it’s their only means in and out.
I think, Mr. Speaker, again, I would just like to reiterate that a lot of capital investment has been made by this government for these particular airports that have been mentioned in this motion and I think the government has already done its part, but there are other airports we have to put our attention to, so I will not be supporting this motion.