David Krutko

Mr. Speaker, this again has become a political issue for the community of Aklavik. I would like to ask the Minister if he can accommodate myself in going to the community and have a debate on this issue with the community. I think it is critical that the community formulate these partnerships with communities like they are in Fort Good Hope where they are extending the airport for another 500 feet with a joint submission by both the community corporation and the Department of Transportation. Knowing that these things are happening in other communities, why is the government not open to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to talk about airports, but the real airports that are important to the people in the North and have the ability to medevac people out of our communities so that we can medevac them to Edmonton where, basically, those requirements are essential.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation is improving the access to communities by extending airports up to 4,000 feet in Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Fort McPherson and also in other communities that have been identified. Mr. Speaker, the whole reason for that is to mitigate aircraft weight consistency imposed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Minister’s Statement 65-16(5) be moved into Committee of the Whole.

---Carried

So when can I see it in the... Is the cheque in the mail or when do I get to see it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One thing the Minister does have control over is the time schedule of the ferry operations. I’d like him to seriously consider moving the ferry operations to 8:00 a.m. so that people will have the opportunity to do their work during the day, travel to Inuvik, make their appointment, get back home or even make their appointments to fly into southern Canada. You do have the power, you do have the means; all I ask is that you start the ferry operations in the Inuvik region at 8:00 a.m. starting next season.

The Minister of Health.

Mr. Abernethy.

Okay. I’ll go back.

Again, it’s too late for this ferry season to implement such an idea, but I’d like to ask the Minister if it’s possible for us to see the ferry operations for 2010-2011 taken into consideration so that we do bring our times in line with other ferry operations in the Northwest Territories similar to the ferry operation on the Liard River system, to coordinate it so that people know this is the time our ferries operate in the Northwest Territories. When we post it, people will know that they can have a reasonable time to travel and make their connections, and not put a barrier to the travelling...

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I think the report that was being referred to was the report in regard to the review that was done by Public Works on the infrastructure of the department. If you can get that report, great. Ms. Bisaro.