David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure met on February 16, 2011, to review Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 19 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 19. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure met on February 16, 2011, to review Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Fire Prevention Act. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 15 to the Assembly as ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 15. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed.

Thank you. It is a difficult position to be in, but some of my colleagues across the way were there when these decisions were made. The decision was made to change the regs the day before the concession agreement was done, which, for all intents and purposes, meant that the former government, the previous government was fully intent on getting this project done despite anything else. They wanted it done, they got it done, Mr. Speaker. What I can talk about today and I can ask the Minister this question: where does the responsibility lie for a February 2008 decision of Cabinet to change the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Seeing as we’re talking about regulations being amended, in September 2007 the Contract of Indemnification Exemption Regulations was amended to allow for specific indemnity in the concession agreement. This happened on September the 27th of 2007, the day before the concession agreement was in fact signed by the previous government. I’d like to ask the Minister why that regulation was amended, which would have meant that the Cabinet had 14 days to inform Members of that decision to indemnify the lenders, but that was amended and Members weren’t notified. I’d like to ask...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That begs the question: why were the regulations amended in February 2008 to indemnify the lenders in this? Why were the regulations changed if they were following policy as the Minister states? Why were the regulations changed? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, seeing as we have taken over control of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and that contract between what was then the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and Ruskin, I am wondering if the Minister can comment on what our potential liabilities are or risks associated with being in that contract with Ruskin. This is related to cost, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wasn’t really talking about the toll but I appreciate the Minister throwing that in there for me. I want to talk about the contingency as well. That was flagged by the Auditor General too. On a project of this size, how is it possible that we have a contingency of less than 2 percent or close to 2 percent on a project of this size? Judging by the items I have identified, it would take no time at all, Mr. Speaker, to eat that $2 million up. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have a design for three years into a project. You still don’t have a firm design. You’ve had more engineers, probably close to 30 or 40 engineers working on the project. It’s little wonder that you’re going to have trouble finding somebody that can come in and sign off on that project, ultimately, at the end of the day.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister what evidence does he and the department have that the other risks that are addressed in the Auditor General’s report are being managed effectively? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to join my colleagues in speaking out today against elder abuse. I was disgusted and sickened by a story on the CTV two days ago where a man and his wife had left his elderly mother in an unheated garage for an extended period of time. Mr. Speaker, this action was reprehensible and highlights the fact that elder abuse is happening every day, not only in communities in our Territory but across this country. In this case, laws were broken, but the abuse can take many forms, Mr. Speaker, such as financial abuse, people stealing money, belongings, forging cheques...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure met on February 16, 2011, to review Bill 18, An Act to Repeal the Settlements Act. Following the clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 18 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 18. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.