Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister McLeod.

There would be no need for the ferry or the ice road once the bridge is open.

Okay. So I guess that means when the ribbon is cut then the operations cease. Is that right? Thanks.

I believe that’s correct. Would you like to confirm that, Minister?

Agreed, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Any further questions on page 11-25, committee? Transportation, activity summary, marine, operations expenditure summary, $7.976 million.

Page 11-26, Transportation, information item, marine, active positions. Agreed?

Page 11-29, Transportation, activity summary, community access program, operations expenditure summary. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It’s a minor amount of money but I was struck by the $20,000 in travel on this page. When it’s, I don’t know, 99 percent grants and contributions I wondered why we have a travel expense. If I could get an explanation. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister McLeod.

Mr. Chairman, the money that’s allocated in this budget line is for airfare, for any air charters, accommodations, meals or incidentals. There is, and have been, communities that have requested us to come into the community to either explain the program, to assist with some of the technical areas, to ask for advice or to help them put the proposal together. A portion of these dollars are earmarked for that service.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. We’re on page 11-29, Transportation, activity summary, community access program, operations expenditure summary, $1.008 million. Agreed?

Page 11-30. Transportation, activity summary, community access program, grants and contributions, contributions, $980,000.

Page 11-33. Mr. Abernethy.

Not really so much a question but a pat on the back. Early in the life of this Assembly I gave the Minister a fairly hard time about the road licensing office here in Yellowknife and how it was so incredibly frustrating going there. I recently went and got my new licence and it was a great experience. The way you’ve got that office structured now is a lot more ergonomic. It makes sense. Yes, the lines are still long, but it’s a lot clearer. So I’d like to pat the Minister on the back for some good work in that area and thanks for

making that a more pleasurable experience than it was in the past. Granted, yes, the line-ups are still too long, but, you know, I was born in January and apparently a lot of other people were too. Just a comment.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Any response, Mr. Minister?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will certainly accept a pat on the back. I have to agree, there has been a real decline in the number of concerns that have come forward. The waiting room is a little more accommodating and things seem to be going a lot smoother and people are moving through the system a lot faster. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Next on my list, I have Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just in regard to my colleague Mr. Abernethy saying how good services are getting here in Yellowknife for licensing, we do need the portable unit to be heading into the communities a little bit more often than it’s being sent in. We’re having people calling me again stating that the general I.D. that they could provide and the licensing for the upgrades and stuff. I would like to ask the Minister if that could be possible to start sending in staff into the communities again. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Minister McLeod.