David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for his recognition of the award. We hope to be concluded with the EA process and get a report back on that early in 2013. Between that time and when session starts again in February-March, we hope to be able to get the cost estimates on the project so that we can better ascertain what the cost of the project is going to be. We expect to be able to come back before the House in the February-March sitting to formally make a decision on the Inuvik-Tuk highway. I look forward to doing that.

I thank the Member for his questions. Certainly, the Sahtu holds much promise from an economic standpoint, and there’s going to be, again this winter, a tremendous amount of exploration in the area. We’ve had some preliminary discussions with industry on how we can work together. First off, we are, again, looking at partnering with industry on the maintenance and enhancement of the winter roads in the region so that heavier loads can be brought in, so that they can be opened earlier and last a little bit longer. That will be beneficial to residents as well as industry in the Sahtu.

As far as...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Member for his comments. It was certainly a pleasure to be in Colville Lake and open the Tommy Kochon Airport there in the community about two weeks ago with the Member. We’re happy to do that.

We are watching closely, as development occurs in the Sahtu and exploration continues, what the impact is going to be on transportation infrastructure in the Sahtu. I know the Member’s comments in this regard were airports. The region is served by a regional airport in Norman Wells. Last winter landings and take-offs increased threefold. We expect that trend will...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that is done every, roughly, 10 years and we have had some success with that application. It’s also used, I’ll mention this, that compound EK35 has also been used in the community, I believe, of Tulita. They had used that to put it down in the community of Tulita to supress the dust and it does work. They were happy with that application. We’ve had success with it at runways around the territory.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. There was a comprehensive review done in 2007 and the airport in Aklavik wasn’t identified at that time as a priority. We do review annually the priorities and needs around the territory, so if things have changed in Aklavik and the need arises to have another look at that, it’s something we would consider.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe we have one witness here that I’d like to bring into the Chamber. If the other comes, they come. We can start with one.

Thanks. I’ll just get Mr. Neudorf to explain that. Thank you.

Again, I thank the Member for raising the concern on behalf of the community and the residents in Nahanni. It certainly is something I’ve committed to already, and I commit again to the Member to sit down and review the situation and try to find the assistance that’s necessary to help those folks out in Nahanni Butte.

We don’t have plans for the Merv Hardie once it comes out of the river at Fort Providence. With the Louis Cardinal we just put new engines into the Louis Cardinal three years ago. We’re working on plans to extend the ice roads in the Beaufort-Delta near the Member’s communities and really the big point is, and I have to say, the Merv Hardie does cost more to operate. So what we intend to do is mothball it. It will be there if we need it. We don’t have any intentions on selling it or disposing of it in any other way. We’re going to have it as a backup, and as I mentioned in response to Member...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have a harvesters Disaster Compensation Program that’s allotted $15,000 on an annual basis. It has a maximum of $4,500 per applicant. I understand the Member’s concern, and I had the opportunity to visit the community of Nahanni Butte with the Premier and the Member just after the flood had occurred. Certainly, the residents of Nahanni Butte need the government’s assistance. If there are, as the Member indicated, a few people that have concerns, that’s something that we’re willing to sit down with the Member and the community to discuss how we can get them assistance...