Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few comments. First of all I just want to make some comments on the ferry operations in Inuvik this past winter. The first year was definitely a learning experience. The way it was developed and operated this year was excellent. I know all the guys working on it and some people making comments said it was really well done this year. Moving forward, it’s going to be a very efficient practice getting that up and running.
I also want to just make a comment about the Aviation Career Development Program. I am pretty sure that scholarship is fully utilized every year and maybe we need to increase the funding into that. I have a constituent who’s received that scholarship twice and he’s excelling in the aviation field and he appreciates the support the department is giving him.
Once again, the investment into the Inuvik-Tuk highway, the department is staying on top of that in terms of getting that road up and running. Like I said, it’s an investment into the region and getting a lot of people working. The Minister made a statement saying there were 600 people employed, which is great with the economy we are seeing right now in the Beaufort-Delta region.
A few things of concern and an idea I will throw out there as well. I know the Minister has made trips up to Inuvik, and almost on a yearly basis the access road into Inuvik from the airport always seems to need some type of maintenance. I think last year we had some funding put in there that worked on certain sections, but I think that continues to need to be addressed.
The department also knows my concern with the runway in Inuvik. The last time we had a briefing, there was a study going on to look into that. I wanted to know where the plan is moving forward on the runway.
There’s not a whole lot that hasn’t already been said by my colleagues, but we are building this Inuvik to Tuk highway to the Beaufort Sea and we’re also getting a lot more vessels through the Northwest Passage. I wonder if it’s feasible for this government to look at possibly putting in a deep water port in the Beaufort Sea where we can start getting things shipped up there and shipping it down the valley from there. It might be a possibility. Whether the department has that on the books, I’m not sure.
So, really not much more other than that. The ferry operations were great last year.
Also, the Canada Building Fund, I know we’re waiting to hear the details on that and what’s going on. I know we will be building big infrastructure projects if that funding is approved. Maybe if we could get an update or a possible timeline when
that will be updated for Members, that would be appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Chair.