The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Mawdsley. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

The reason why I asked that question is because, according to our policy, I believe airplane or air fleet is not indicated, I believe, in our Financial Administration Act, and so I needed to know clarity given best practices in public accounting standards. We can ask that question when we get to Public Accounts, but I’ll need to know that number specifically when we get there.

With respect to the fleet itself, when the fleet does arrive in the Northwest Territories, do we have any indication where this fleet will be located primarily from an operational base standpoint?

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There is going to be the forest management programs in Fort Smith. The tender to

operate and maintain will be let. In all probability, it will be one of the large operators in Yellowknife. We will build in the requirements for storage during fire season. As with the 215s, they are stationed as on an as anticipated need basis, some in Yellowknife, some in Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, depending on where the project need is or if there are some active fires there, and that is always changing. The Members will remember over the years flying out of Yellowknife, you’d see the fleet parked on one of the aprons here covered in snow for eight months of the year. I’ll ask the deputy to talk a bit about what we anticipate in terms of the new planes whether we’re going to require covered storage. I’ll ask the deputy to respond.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Deputy Minister Campbell.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Campbell. Mr. Dolynny.

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the deputy minister responding, but from that response I have a hard time figuring out exactly where these planes will be located. We heard Fort Smith at the Fire Centre. We’ve heard maybe Yellowknife. We’ve heard many other bases throughout the Northwest Territories. There was some mention that this would possibly go to an operator base, whether or not it would be RFP’d or not I didn’t quite hear that and that there would be an operations and maintenance contract associated with that, again not knowing if this would be an RFP type scenario. So I might want to get clarity with that. But in addition to that I’d probably like to ask, we know that the primary manufacturer, I believe it’s Conair, and Conair, by virtue, will control the parts and the availability of parts and possibly some of the proprietary rights around these new 802s. What security or reassurance do we have that potential people, organizations or companies will have that if we do go down this route of purchasing these 802s that Conair will play nice in the sandbox, so to speak, and work with northern contractors? What reassurances do we have that this will indeed transpire?

Again, if we can get some clarity as to this future company or companies that would be involved with the O and M, the location of fleet. Is this indeed something that will be an RFP, or has the Minister or department predetermined where these planes

are going to be stationed once they do arrive in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Miltenberger.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the start of the season, the practice has been the 215s, and we would anticipate following with 802s, that you’d have right now two to start the season. Two of the 215s are stationed in Yellowknife, and the other two are on the ground in the South Slave at the base in Fort Smith. Then from there they’re deployed as required. Conair is not the manufacturer; they’re the Canadian supplier for Air Tractor. The planes are manufactured in Texas I believe. We have a letter of commitment and we’ve got that point clarified, at the request of committee, that if we proceed with the purchase, Conair will sell us the planes and there’s no strings or caveats on them getting the contract or not, getting us parts, unless we do business with them or anything of that nature, and that letter was shared with committee. Thank you.

Daryl Dolynny Range Lake

Thank you. So, again, I appreciate the Minister mentioning a letter. I wish I could have, but unfortunately, I’m under the convention I’m not allowed to talk about correspondence that committee receives. So I’m glad that this letter has now been mentioned by the Minister.

The letter in question did give some reassurance and I’ll underline that word that Conair would work with any northern contractor, but again, what safeguards do northern contractors have or any specific caveat that would reassure business owners here that Conair will work in conjunction with northern providers to provide the operations and maintenance contract in its wholesome format? Thank you.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you. I guess there are a couple things. There is the portrayal of a deep and abiding suspicion of the motives of Conair. They’re in a business and one of their functions is that they’re the supplier of an aircraft, and the only supplier. They’ve told us in writing that in fact there are no caveats, that we can expect full support, and if we want more of their services, they’d be happy to have those discussions, but it’s not contingent upon us getting the planes, that they won’t sell us the planes unless they’re given all these other considerations. They pretty clearly and categorically say that, and I’ve talked to the president and the vice-president myself.

Now, we also have a letter here from Air Tractor itself in Texas where they say that Conair has been their representative for many years and has established themselves as one of our reliable customer service-oriented dealers and we are sure that they will serve you well and that they are the

exclusive dealer for Air Tractor in Canada. So we believe we have the assurances that we need. I suggest we don’t write to Ford Patel that they give us this kind of comfort or any other major supplier of equipment, but we have it and we are confident that it gives us all the protection that we need. Thank you.

The Chair Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Minister Miltenberger. Next on my list is Mrs. Groenewegen.

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress.

---Carried