Just quick comments also. Thank you, Minister, for your opening comments. I, along with Mr. Bouchard, probably are going to ask some of the questions on deferred maintenance costs, because that ties into one of our goals for having safe and reliable facilities that are available to support the delivery of government programs and protected $290 million. That is by the end of this government here.

We have a lot of assets in our communities that certainly need taking care of and need some tender loving care. I guess it’s pretty tough, with the funding that we have right now, in determining which ones are going to be looked at from a priority level. I just want to make note and be consistent with my messaging, that there is increased development in the Sahtu. Some of our assets are an emerging issue here, and some of the needs that we see in the Sahtu need to be looked at. I

want to make note of that for the Minister, of the increased development that we’re having and that PWS will look at that as an emerging issue, something that should be carefully looked at when they’re planning out their strategies to work within their department.

I do want to thank the Minister for the work that is being done to handle the Norman Wells natural gas situation by putting in some other alternative methods of using energy. I certainly know Inuvik is also probably in more dire straits than we are. However, those two communities need some close attention.

The situation in Norman Wells, the gas line was cut off in Norman Wells about a month ago or so, where the town of Norman Wells was pretty close to evacuating some of its residents. Those kinds of situations, we look at. I ask the department if they could continue working with the town and the residents. This year the businesspeople of Norman Wells will be cut off of natural gas and next year will be the residents, so there is some time there for us to look at what can be done. We have some assets there that are being looked at right now. However, in thinking about the residents, we are going to have to also make that changeover. I think they’re doing that as we speak.

I understand that one of our goals is to meet the basic community needs for heating, transportation, power generation and fuel through the safe and reliable provisions of fuel services. Again, I notice you look at the town of Norman Wells under that goal under the department.

My last comment would be on the work that is happening in the communities on apprenticeships, the type of work that is with PWS. I’m going to again remind the Minister that there’s an old DPW garage that was built in the ‘60s by the federal government and that turned over to the GNWT. I know, again, that stacks up against other facilities, especially for our small communities such as

Tulita. I think that facility, that garage should be looked at. I have been here for eight years and still nothing has been moved on that or any type of indication, unless you can fill me in as to what your plans are for that DPW garage in Tulita. I have been there. It was built in the ‘60s. It’s no different than the old Department of Transportation garage up at the Yellowknife Airport. I’m not too sure if there are safety checks and hazardous material in that old garage. I just want to know what their plans are for putting a new garage in that area.

The last point I want to make is asking the Minister about the procurement of the work. I know the Minister and I have worked on several projects that certainly saw the benefits for going into the Sahtu, and the communities that could do the work or partnering up with other companies outside of the Sahtu to do some of the community work. I

appreciate his flexibility. Knowing the circumstances, sometimes a one-size cookie cutter doesn’t fit everything. He is open and flexible on those issues.

I thank the Minister and his staff. Those comments came back from my constituents in the Sahtu. There is some flexibility with the department. I look forward to going through the mains with this department. Thank you, Madam Chair.