Robert C. McLeod

I will be making it available to the public, including tabling. I can table the letter, but what I need to do before that, out of respect for a consensus system, is share. We have a briefing with committee, and I want to give committee an update before I am in a position to release anything publicly.

Early indications are, for the federal government, this is one of the projects that meets their vision. When we put a good business case forward, I think the federal government will be receptive to helping us to see this project come to fruition.

It is something that fits into their mandate, and it's something that early indications are they have kind of looked at this project favourably. Whether that translates into significant investment remains to be seen, but we have to ensure that we have a fairly solid business case going forward.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the discussions on the territorial financing renewal are well-advanced. It is important to remember that this is described in federal legislation, as opposed to an agreement that is negotiated.

Currently, there is a general agreement on a renewal, and the changes proposed by the federal government are minor and relatively technical in nature. We were pleased that there weren't any significant changes that would reduce our grant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am not sure about the plans, but a lot of those folks out there who are in that type of industry, they know where some of the fires were, so there is an opportunity for them to go into the riding. We would hope that members of the constituency would be the first ones to try and go take advantage of the harvest, but I am sure that those who are in that industry, those who pick them, do know where the fires are, and if there is an opportunity, they would go there and pick them.

As far as promoting it, I would have to check with my colleague at ITI to see if there is anything in the works on...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is a site selection is in process, designed to start in the summer of 2018, with construction in the spring of 2019. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the Member is correct. There is the carry-over. The project was delayed, responding to the Gwich'in Land and Water Board use for a land-use permit. As far as the contract being awarded, I am not aware of the contracts being awarded yet. I will work on my colleague from the Department of Infrastructure to see if a contract has been awarded. It seems to be the bulk of the delay is with the land-use permit. I believe they had chosen a site for this, and then they have to go through the Gwich'in Land and Water Board. We will follow up on that and get a bit more...

Yes, Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it was a fairly significant influx of federal money, and some large capital projects we had on our own. That is the reason for the carry-overs, and as we go through the details, I think you'll have a pretty good indication of where a lot of this money was supposed to have been spent. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

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...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my understanding is that, if there was an agreement reached and the compensation was a bit higher than this, then we have the opportunity to adjust this particular number in the future. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

No, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don't have much to say, other than we appreciate the feedback from the Member, and we've had a couple of suggestions already, and we do take those things back and see how we can work, incorporate them into the estimates as we prepare them going forward, and the briefings that we provide to committee. Thank you, Mr. Chair.