Just something else, there are possible plans to continue this to the Yukon. I suggest the next time that we do this sort of infrastructure that we insulate where the cable is going to go so that, whether it is woodchips or something along those lines, it will keep the ground from thawing any further. I am sure that is what the cause of this was, plus with all the rain that we have had in our region this summer it created a lot of landslides and it has really increased in my riding. As I have travelled around, I have noticed this. It’s just something the department can look into for future use. Thanks.

As we turn to look eventually at the Yukon lateral or the Dempster lateral into the Yukon, clearly there will be lessons learned from this project and we will be applying those when that day comes as we look at doing that shorter and more easy-to-access route down into the Yukon. Thank you.

Thank you. Committee, we are on page 32, budget, treasury and debt management, infrastructure investments, $91 million. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A couple of questions. I am just wondering: I think we are midway or more through this project, how are our residents, businesses and communities benefitting from this large expenditure for the construction of this infrastructure in the NWT? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Deputy minister, Mr. Aumond.

Thank you, Mr. Aumond. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am assuming there has been more thinking done on this, but I am wondering if we could get a clear statement on how access to this really state-of-the-art technology is being assured and how it will be improved access for our residents and communities

along the line. I understand the situation in Inuvik with the satellite infrastructure and so on, but I am wondering, are homes and residents and families throughout the valley? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Every community will have a point of presence established from the fibre optic link. Those in Deline will be covered off by microwave towers. The final mile piece becomes a business opportunity for the community or for some business that wants to go in there, it could be NorthwestTel. Deline, I know, has very strong leanings in decision to trying to manage all those and run all the telecommunications and IT requirements in the community for everybody, so that piece is the step that now happens, one step for the presence there and the line goes live in the second quarter of 2016. Thank you.

I appreciate that. I am just wondering: how are we helping the communities take advantage of that point of presence, I guess is what I am saying. I am asking because, obviously, they don’t always have the capacity. I certainly would be at a loss on how to take advantage of the point of presence. It is beyond my ken. I am wondering: are we helping communities to assess options towards optimizing the benefits they will get that a point of presence provides in each home. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. I intend no slur with NorthwestTel, but obviously they will have that possibility, that potential. This is the proverbial captive audience. That is why I am saying it seems clear there is a need to provide some support to communities to consider and assess alternatives and make sure they are able to pick out the best ones and also that they have some expertise to draw

on to

make sure that they’re not being taken

advantage of as a captive audience in our valley communities. Thank you.

Some communities’ thinking and capacity is well along, like

Inuvik. I know the community of Deline have their thinking very clear about what they see going forward with their microwave connection and wanting to become the sole provider for the community. Every independent service provider, every ISP will have the capacity to make the case. This is a business enterprise that, yes, communities may choose to pursue themselves or they would support somebody coming in that has the skills that’s prepared to wire or put in the fib

re optic where it’s

necessary and hook up the town for the full service of the fibre optic connection. So, we believe that opportunity is there. We have folks on the ground in the regions, in the communities on the economic development side that will be working with community groups, businesses and regional centres, taking calls, and we are standing ready to work with communities as they look at that final mile piece. Thank you.

Thanks to the Minister. That sounds good. I wonder, though, if the Minister could work with his colleague and provide us with an outline of exactly how our economic development officers are aware of this challenge for communities and helping out in helping them select the best possible options and cost benefits for their access to this. Thank you.

We will pull something together that will capture that as per the Member’s request.

I just want to point out that in my mind the final mile piece has always been where the business opportunity is and we would be there to provide support as opposed to going to communities and getting potentially into the telecommunication business. So between the providers that are there, the ISPs, the communities with us playing a support role, we want to make sure that final mile gets implemented. But we will, on that basis, pull together the information for the Member in the life of this Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you. I have no more questions. I have no problems with the briefing laid out by the Mi

nister there and I’ll look forward to that

information. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Committee, we’re on page 32, budget, treasury and debt management, infrastructure investments, $91 million.

Agreed. Page 35, Office of the Comptroller General, infrastructure investments, $1.325 million.

We

’ll go back to page

31, Department of Finance, total infrastructure investments, $92.325 million.

Committee is agreed we’re concluded the Department of Finance?