David Krutko

I heard a yes there, so there is hope for this project after all. Mr. Speaker, I believe that in order for this proposal to see the light of day, we do have to find a unique way of doing it. We may have to consider tolls. We may have to consider how you finance it, the cost for the ferry operations, the cost for the ice bridge going forward and also exactly how long a term of the lease there is.

Right now, there is a proposal being developed looking at the different scenarios of a 30 or 40-year lease commitment. Will the Minister consider looking at the possibility of looking outside the GNWT...

I lied. It’s not my last question. You mentioned that it’s going to be coming forward by way of the capital planning process. Like I say, there’s been a lot of capital infrastructure, especially in Fort Smith where I mentioned the electric heat. I believe there’s also a project at the college. I’d like to know, can you give us a breakdown of exactly how much of these type of dollars by way of unique projects like electric heat, wood pellets are in place and where those capital expenditures are being spent to date and why is it all focused in the south of the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Minister of Transportation with regard to the Deh Cho Bridge Act that was passed in this government to build a $165 million bridge across the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. As part of that proposal, which was to look at the design, build, and finance and own the bridge by way of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in which the government will be responsible for paying the cost for what the ferry operation is today with the cost of the bridge crossing, which is about $101.8 million, and then they topped it off to about $2 million a year...

Again, I’d like to ask the Minister, in regard to reducing the high cost of fossil fuels, that there are motions coming forward by way of trying to get us off certain types of fuels. And for myself I think that in a lot of our diesel communities where we have a high dependency on diesel fuel, it’s finding ways to break that dependency. I know for a fact that we have a residual heat system in Fort McPherson and the government has done everything in its power to not use that system. It’s already in place, it’s there, but there are no real plans to expand this project to other community...

I noted the Minister mentioned Aklavik, but I’m not too sure what type of project you’re talking about. You were talking wood pellets. It’s going to be very expensive not only to get it in there, but to store it and have the...because it’s an isolated community in which you have to take into account large storage facilities. Maybe you can elaborate on that.

One thing we also have to keep in mind is out of the energy plans that were done by communities, there are only three communities that have done their energy plans. The majority of those are large communities. There are 30 communities out...

If we could get that information from the Minister it would be great. But the reason I’m asking is that in the case of Aklavik, they apply that EK-35 and it does work. If anything, if you’re not going to extend the airport, I think that at least having an airport that’s in pretty good shape, especially with these chemicals. I think it’s important that you do continue to reapply the chemical if you’re not going to extend those airports, because it does make a difference for the aircraft. You even notice it flying into these communities. The ones that have the chemical you can notice the...

Mr. Chairman, it is good for this government to use this scenario. The communities are in the same predicament. They have the same types of costs. They have basically deficits that are running because of these unpredictable costs. The budget isn’t designed to deal with these types of trends, but yet we are not there to help out the communities. Now we are saying sorry, you are on your own. You have to budget. Sorry, you have to fend for yourselves. I would like to know exactly why is it that we allow this to happen in government but yet we are telling the municipalities and the small...

Are we under marine?

Yeah, just with regard to the federal legislation, because of the change in the legislation where it requires a certain length of airport, I am wondering if that airport falls within that required length or does it have to be extended under the new federal regulations where you operate certain types of aircraft on these airports in the communities. They have to be a certain length for certain types of aircraft. I would just like to know does that meet that specific federal standard. That’s why I asked the question if it has to be extended, because I believe it’s only 2,500 feet.

Just in regards to the supp again. I am just wondering why it wasn’t brought forward during the fiscal year 2007-08 when you did have the deficit and which you were able to account for that fiscal year than bringing it forward to 2008-09. Why wasn’t it addressed at that time?