Transport committee  I just want to echo what John said on this matter: it's obviously more challenging in the current economic situation to attract financing with a P3 model.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're looking at each other. I think the territories are looking at what they will do in Iqaluit concerning their port. To my knowledge, they were looking at studying what they need at the port. I don't know whether the territories have expressed a view of what type of port they want in Iqaluit.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It really is an assessment; it's not a strategy. The reason we thought we should have such an assessment is that, as I mentioned, we know the transportation system that exists right now, but in the context of the northern strategy, we want to look forward. I take your point. I think it's going to be a challenging task for the consultant we work with.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Are you talking about the Airport Assistance Program or the $33-billion Infrastructure Canada Program?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I will answer your question. Luckily, I have colleagues here with the information at hand. I would like to take advantage of that to tell you how much money was invested in the three territories over the past five years under the ACAP or the Airports Capital Assistance Program. In the Northwest Territories $11 million; in the Yukon $5 million; in Nunavut $22 million.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a very popular program.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Gaudet, the question you are asking is more related to the abilities of people in the North to participate in economic development. Perhaps this question should be asked to the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development. I do not know whether they have any programs along those lines, but it would certainly be a good question to ask them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In my opening remarks I referred to a guide that is developed under the Transportation Association of Canada. The association groups a variety of stakeholders under the association, including the provinces and territories. The guide is being developed under that umbrella. We hope it is going to be helpful in terms of sharing best practices and helping in transportation infrastructure.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let me go back to my speech here. Essentially what I said was that since the creation of the program in 1995, the Government of Canada has provided $22 million for capital improvements to six airports in the Northwest Territories, $10 million for three airports in the Yukon, and almost $30.9 million for 14 airports in Nunavut.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I cannot tell you precisely over the last five years how much was spent, but I think the important thing to flag here is that this program is to help airports in terms of safety requirements, and it is quite a popular program. It helps in terms of maintaining the safety of the facilities.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Do you mean in the high Arctic? Again, the assessment is to look at the potential of the economic development in the north over 20 years and what the requirements will be in terms of transportation, and it covers the three territories.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, it will also look at the re-supply side of the equation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The assessment is for the three territories in the north, so it will look at the whole territory.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Are you indicating that the Yukon is reviewing its own legislation in terms of environmental assessments, and you want to know how we've worked with them? Is that the question?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't have a specific answer on the Yukon example, but what I can say about environmental assessments is that I'm sure you're very aware of our streamlining of the process in the context of the infrastructure investments. In light of the economic downturn and the stimulus funding, there were steps taken by the government to streamline the environmental assessment process.