David Krutko

Legal Aid Services, not previously authorized: $403,000. Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, there are some major landfills in the Beaufort Sea in regard to oil and gas leases being let go. We start looking at the possibility of another boom again in the Beaufort. But in order to serve that industry, we have to ensure that we have the capacity by way of infrastructure to basically supply that industry, like we are with the mines.

I’d like to ask the Minister: has your department looked at any surveys for the Peel River in regard to a possible bridge?

Mr. Hawkins.

I would like to ask again: would you consider that some communities may not be able to come up with the matching funds? We should have the flexibility or ask for the flexibility with the federal government in those circumstances that we do allow for some leeway. Again, I know people are perceiving a gas tax and whatnot. But again, the smaller your population, the less you get.

I think it’s important that we do look at that option and that we don’t totally exclude it from our negotiations. I’d like to get some assurance that maybe we’ll consider that in our discussions with the federal...

Page 6, Executive Offices, Executive Operations Expense, not previously authorized: $981,000. Agreed?

Executive Offices, Executive Operations Expense, $981,000 approved.

Page 14, Justice Operations, Services to Government, not previously authorized: $138,000.

Justice, Operations Expenditures, Services to Government, $138,000 approved.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve been hearing a lot about the Deh Cho Bridge. But today I want to talk about the Peel River Bridge.

It’s a bridge that’s been around for some time. The Inuvik Chamber of Commerce was looking at the Peel River Bridge back in 1981. They contacted an engineering firm to look at the viability of building a bridge across the Peel River. They were looking in regard to finding ways to improve the transportation to the oil and gas industry in the Beaufort Sea, which was booming back in the early ‘80s and into the middle of the ‘80s.

Yet very little has been done by way of work from...

Community Operations, not previously authorized: $1,441,000. Agreed?

Community Operations, $1,441,000 approved.

I know there’s talk about another fund in regard to the Canadian building fund. Can these dollars — and also using the Canadian building fund dollars — be used jointly, or is this a separate fund altogether?

We’re now on tab 2. I believe we’re starting on page 5: Legislative Assembly, Office of the Clerk, not previously authorized: negative $47,000. Does the committee agree?

Legislative Assembly, Operations Expenditures, Office of the Clerk, negative $47,000 approved.