Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 14 and 15, which have the details for the Department of Infrastructure. Comments or questions? Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 14, the third line, Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk all-weather highway - various for $191,000, I am just wondering if the Minister can give some details on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is there are repairs to the highway. There are some compaction and surfacing, gravel in required areas from kilometre 21 to 46. I think, at the end of the last construction season, there was a small stretch that did not have the surfacing gravel, which is crushed rock, so that is the reason for the $191,000. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Nakimayak.

Yes, just one more thing. I do not know if the Minister of Infrastructure or the Minister of Finance will know, but I just want to know a plan for the highway for the upcoming weeks, as session will be closed soon. I was wondering if the department has a plan for the summer. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Nakimayak. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, for that, I would like to go to the Minister of Infrastructure.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Minister Schumann, this will be a good introduction for the public briefing you will be giving later today. Minister Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I have stated in the House, there are some deficiencies that needed to be carried over from this year. The section that the Minister of Finance just talked about was not completed due to the cold weather. We were not able to get up there to do the compaction, do the necessary work that needed to be done because of the weather, but, as I stated in the House, we have deficiencies around bridges, signage, embankments, and the completion of these gravel sections that we are currently working on. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Anything further? Nothing further from Mr. Nakimayak. Next, Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Under the "Taltson expansion, pre-construction," the amount is $200,000. Could the Minister just speak to what that entails? Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you. So my understanding is that it's to explore the electricity market, to define the potential business model, including partnership discussions and a crossing study for the Great Slave Lake for transmission lines, and a regulatory review and engagement of stakeholders. So is that the full extent of the appropriation? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. That is the full extent of the investment. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. With the first round of calls to the National Trade Corridors funding from the Government of Canada, with this project not being included in that funding, where does this get us? We are putting the work into this study right now. Does the government believe that is going to get us any closer to success when we are looking for federal dollars? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister McLeod.

Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, any time you can do some of this work to help with your business case to Canada, then I think it's a worthwhile investment. I mean, we would like to think that this government would be ready if there are some dollars that could be had rather than waiting for them to come to us and say, "Well, we have got this money; how can you use it?" and then develop a business case. That is probably better developing a business case and then going and presenting that business case as that helps you secure the funding. Obviously, this is going to be a multi-year funding agreement because it's going to be a significant investment, so we want to ensure that we are in a position to put a good business case forward and secure that funding from Canada. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Testart.

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I agree with the Minister. I think that, with so much of our climate change planning dependent on this project, we need to start the investment, so, yes, I do support this, and I am thankful for the Minister's explanation of the scale of the project. Thank you. Nothing further.