Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for his comments. It was certainly a pleasure to be in Colville Lake and open the Tommy Kochon Airport there in the community about two weeks ago with the Member. We’re happy to do that.
We are watching closely, as development occurs in the Sahtu and exploration continues, what the impact is going to be on transportation infrastructure in the Sahtu. I know the Member’s comments in this regard were airports. The region is served by a regional airport in Norman Wells. Last winter landings and take-offs increased threefold. We expect that trend will continue this coming winter, and probably be even twice as much as it was last winter. We’re keeping a watchful eye on that.
When it comes to a community like Deline, if exploration continues and Deline becomes a place of activity and there’s more of a requirement there, the runway length in Deline is certainly something the government would consider if that happens.
We did a runway study back in 2007 which resulted in a couple of extensions in the Sahtu. One in Tulita and the other in Fort Good Hope. We worked with the community of Fort Good Hope to extend their runway, as well, an extra 500 feet. We’re anxious to again improve transportation infrastructure in the Sahtu when it comes to airports, and hopefully at some point in time that will include all-season roads as well.