MR. GRAHAM STEELE: Mr. Minister, just like last year, I gave you advance notice of this question so that you would be prepared for it. I know that you know the background, but by way of background for others, there is one street in my constituency that is very close to the Bicentennial Highway, and that is School Avenue. The proximity of School Avenue to the Bicentennial Highway continues to cause a number of problems for the local residents. I would like to compliment Paul O'Brien from your department for working very well and conscientiously in trying to understand the residents' issues. In fact, he came out to attend a meeting of School Avenue residents and addressed the audience. They were very appreciative that he did that.

Mr. Minister, my question is, in this budget has any money been allocated to deal with the issues raised by School Avenue residents? If so, what work is expected to be done with that money?

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MR. CHAIRMAN: The honourable Minister of Transportation and Public Works.

HON. RONALD RUSSELL: Well, the very short answer is yes, there is money in this year's budget. You can return to the Red Chamber now if you want. I can embellish that a little bit, and I don't mean sort of rubbing up the skin of the apple, I mean to give you a little more information. We looked at the problem last year, and I understand we do have a solution but I'm not sure what the solution is. (Interruption) It's as I suspected, we haven't come to the final answer yet, but it will be done this year. The money is in the budget for it to be done this year.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Minister, can you give me an idea of how much money has been set aside to deal with the School Avenue issue?

MR. RUSSELL: That's a good question that you asked from the point of view that it reveals a problem that we have. If we go to tender and we've already said how much we have in the budget for a particular job, that always does certain things with regard to the tender, because people know how much money you have, so that's how much money the tender is going to come out for. Let me tell you, it's in excess of $50,000.

MR. STEELE: Mr. Minister, when and in what way does your department anticipate informing the residents of School Avenue of the plan to deal with some of their issues?

MR. RUSSELL: I don't know whether or not we have a plan to do that, to be quite honest, but it's not a bad idea now that you bring it forward. I'm sure that we can arrange to perhaps circulate a sheet of paper with the broad specs of what we intend to do.

MR. STEELE: That would be wonderful, Mr. Minister. I would very much encourage you to do that. Thank you very much.