We do have a schedule of areas that we are going to be doing research through this money that is coming forward from the Building Canada Fund. One of the projects that we are looking at is some of the review that is being done by the Aklavik Gravel Source Working Group. We have other projects that we are proposing, Highway No. 3 vulnerability assessment, airport runway embankment and sub-grade soil classification and monitoring, and we are also looking at some climate change research and development roundtables. This would be a series of one and two-day workshops to talk about permafrost, winter roads, marine operations and it would be fairly broad based and held at different times. Those are some of the things that we have identified so far, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It sounds like sort of a rah-rah-get-together and perhaps some education components, but I am wondering...It seems clear that some real research is needed, based on what I have heard from the deputy minister and certainly people driving the Mackenzie Highway out of Yellowknife. Is there a plan to get to some real research to figure out how to reduce our costs and how to better build highways? I would think there might be accelerated interest if we are actually contemplating a Mackenzie Highway in the near future, for example,

to ensure that it is going to save us in the long run there, huge potential for unnecessary costs and alternately for savings. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I would need to see what the definition of “real research” is by Mr. Bromley’s standards. Mr. Chairman, there is a number of areas that we need to do additional research. We have identified, he has asked us what is on our list of to do, that is what I provided him. There are a lot of other areas that need to be looked at and that is still something that we are putting together. It does look into the areas that we anticipate and are agreeing that we need to assess the impacts of climate change in the area of transportation, so those are still areas we are developing and we will be pleased to share that once we have all of that identified. Mr. Chairman, I am quite reluctant to start providing information that hasn’t been firmed up yet.

I appreciate the Minister’s comments. I am just trying to bring some focus to what I see as an opportunity here. Perhaps I have a more academic view of what research is, and if so, I apologize. I view what he described as information gathering; whereas, research, I would view as perhaps a more, finding new knowledge and perhaps an experimental approach to finding new ways that work as we encounter new problems. I probably had that in the back of my mind, so just for his clarification, that is what I was referring to. I think obviously we do need some new ways of doing things for these new issues that are on our plate. So anyway, I will leave it at that for now. Thanks for those comments.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. No question, more of a comment. Page 11-13. Hold on. Did Minister McLeod want to make a comment to that?

Mr. Chairman, I certainly recognize that there is desire to look at the issues around climate change and adaptation. Mr. Chairman, we intend to work with the other departments and also the Climate Change Committee to come forward with a better coordinated approach rather than us taking the limited dollars we have investing it in an area that might not be appreciated by some Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next on my list is Ms. Bisaro. But before we go to Ms. Bisaro, I would like to recognize Hudson and McKinley Hawkins in the gallery, children of our colleague Mr. Hawkins. Next on my list, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have one question and I have asked this question

before in the House, but I would like to know from the Minister whether or not there is any significant news in regards to a P3 policy for the government. It sort of affects transportation, what with the bridge and all. I know that it may not necessarily be just his department that is involved, but if he has any information for us, that would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, we are part of the working group. We have people that are sitting on the committee that is working towards this policy. It is being headed up by FMB and my understanding is that the policy is fairly close to being released. I can’t give a firm date on when it will be actually released, but I can say it will be released soon.

Thanks to the Minister for that response. That is good news, glad to hear it. I guess I would like to then next know that if when the policy is done, it will be reviewed with standing committee before it goes public. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I would think this is better answered by the Finance Minister, but I think the answer that I can give is yes.

Thank you, and I appreciate the Minister’s position. I guess I would have to understand if he is overruled by the Finance Minister, but we will leave it at that. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to follow up with the Finance Minister as soon as I can get his attention and provide that information to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Next on my list is Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, a few years ago, and oddly enough it was while the present Transportation Minister was known as the former Transportation Minister, so this must be at least four years or maybe even five years since I wrote this letter, but I wrote the Department of Transportation a letter of concern that there was snow on the back of vehicles, you couldn’t see taillights. If I remember correctly, it may have even covered back windscreens as well as covered licence plates and that would be a road hazard. I recall that the Minister wrote back suggesting that that was a good suggestion and it needed to be pulled into our Transportation legislation and updated. I am just wondering, has that initiative fallen off the table? From the looks of where I am sitting, perhaps it may have. I am just

wondering if the Minister recalls that letter or if any of the staff recall that letter and have they had any progress on that initiative, because this is your policy and planning area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That was a request that was made some time ago and I am pleased to report that we are just about ready to bring it forward. Mr. Chairman, we expect to have a discussion at Cabinet level over the next couple of days on some of the regulation changes in that act. That includes the request from the Member and it has been incorporated and will be presented to this House, I believe, before the end of this session for first and second readings.

I’ll just say I am overwhelmed by how many yeses and agreeables are coming from this Minister. So I will thank him for that and I look forward to that update. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I didn’t hear a question, more of a comment. We are on page 11-13, activity summary, corporate services, operations expenditure summary, $8.430 million. Agreed?

Agreed. Moving along, we are on page 11-14, which is an information item, corporate services, active positions. Agreed?

Agreed. Moving along, we are on page 11-17, activity summary, airports, operations expenditure summary, $29 million. Mr. Jacobson.