Thank you, Mr. Chair. This should be brief. We have heard from our fellow colleagues, our honourable colleagues, as they addressed the issues. There are a number of questions that keep popping into my head. From my riding, it is a $39 increase. If we want to go to Edmonton, we have to switch from here onto another plane and then continue on. It is not a direct flight, like some of the other communities. It is a $39 increase. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but when you are paying a large amount of money to get on a plane to get out just from Fort Simpson to Yellowknife, it is a factor.
Some of the other questions I do have, though, are: I asked the Minister regarding the costs of the GNWT. I understand we are saving $4 million, but how much of this is actually coming back? The departments have to pay, through medical travel and business travel. How much is being put back into the coffer? To me, if we knew the information, then that would help make a better decision for me, but right now, I don’t know what that is. That is a cost that is out there, which seems to be saying, “We are saving $4 million, but if the government spends $1 million, really, we are only saving $3 million.” That is an issue.
My other concern is in regard to O and M costs. If that is a $4 million subsidy, if we are taking that and we're putting it in the revolving fund, that means those costs are going to come out of that. Or is it? Is there another pot of funding that is being allocated? So I am trying to understand these things. I am trying to get a clearer picture of it. The other concern is in regards to the parking expansion enhancement. The plan, I am looking at the airport, and I am seeing the airport and trying to envision where this extension of the parking lot is going to be. Is it going to be a parking lot moved away? Is there going to be additional cost to it? Is it going to be a charter or a taxi, or is it a shuttle? I mean, these are costs that need to be reflected in the plan.
Finally, the cost, if it was actually implemented over a longer period of time, then it would be a better reflection of people to look at it and have a better appreciation of it. I understand the importance of doing business and that, but we are asking for a huge increase right now. Thank you, Mr. Chair.