David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One thing just picking up on Mr. Yakeleya’s question is that the tolls are indexed every year. The government doesn’t often like to say that. But the tolls are indexed as well as the $2 million is indexed. Everything is indexed in this project for 35 years. I just wanted to put that out there.

One other thing I wanted to touch on is next Thursday is coming pretty quick. Members are going to go back to their constituencies and Cabinet is going to do what Cabinet does, and that’s make decisions. I want to know how Cabinet plans on keeping Regular Members in the loop when...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would assume that’s a contribution to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and that who knows what’s going to happen. I guess every day that goes by is a surprise waiting to happen. This $15 million, obviously there’s good reason for us to be looking at supporting this $15 million. I believe firmly that if the Minister wants my support for this $15 million, I think the government’s got to come clean on the current disposition financially of that project. What claims are put against the project and by whom? How much money has been spent to date? What are the outstanding...

I know the deputy minister said $4 million, but on the chart it says there is about $22 million of outstanding work by Ruskin on phase 1, so maybe, is it four or 22, because that is a big difference.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Executive.

With regards to food catering for National Aboriginal Women’s Summit II, specifically SC 411268 and SC 411279 for the amount of $53,668.54 and $16,647.50:

Did conference participants have to pay a conference fee that would cover some of the costs of the conference?

Did any participants receive from their employers a per diem for the time they were in Yellowknife?

Mr. Chairman, I’m just wondering if there is any legal recourse for the Government of the Northwest Territories to pursue the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation for their inability to deliver the project on budget. The design, like I said, the issues with the design, the issues with the subcontractors, the issue with the general contractor. They’ve been removed. I mean, can we go back after the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to recoup some of the costs that they’ve forced the government to incur? Thank you.

How much was that for?

I’m just wondering, too, if we’re just paying interest only up until December 1, 2011, are the total project costs building up on themselves over that period of time, because we’re not actually making payments. Are we going to expect an inflated project cost on December 1, 2011, than what we’re talking about today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7 on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just a few more questions on the $15 million. As I understand it, the lenders issued real-return bonds which are adjusted for inflation. I guess they’re slated to be interest only until December 1st of 2011, at which time we’d make the first payment on the principal. I’m just wondering, what portion of the $15 million that is in this supp is going to pay interest costs, and can the Minister provide us a breakdown of where that $15 million is being allocated to the project. Thank you.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works what measures are in place by Public Works to ensure the contracts are awarded fairly. Thank you.