David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a few other questions for the Minister of Transportation as it pertains to the Government of the Northwest Territories future financial obligations to the Deh Cho Bridge project. The Minister had mentioned that our first payment, I believe, is due in January 2010. I just wanted to clarify with the Minister what that payment is going to be. Is it going to be $3.8 million? Mr. Speaker, that is the question that I have. Thank you.

Another question I think is important to ask today is it appears evident that the bridge is going to be delayed for a period of time, so it’s not going to be built on time. Is it going to be built on budget? I think that’s the question many people have. How confident is the Minister that the bridge will come in at the price that was quoted, $160 million? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Transportation. It gets back to my Member’s statement where I talked about the Deh Cho Bridge project. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, I fought the process for four years and that’s a fight I obviously didn’t win. The bridge is being constructed. This House is going to be begin appropriations for that bridge as we move forward. I would like to ask the Minister how exactly is the Department of Transportation involved in the overall project management of the Deh Cho Bridge project today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, I am just wondering if the Minister can give us an estimate. I know the $2 million and if you add that to the $1.8 million...I want some assurance from the government that it is going to be a certain amount. I don’t think it is something that we can just guess. I think we need to know what we’re getting ourselves into. Is it going to be the operation to the ice crossing and ferry operations at the time or is it going to be what we were told two years ago when the bridge was being talked about then? That was $1.8 million, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

I thought I heard January, but it could have been December. That would, from my knowledge, include $1.8 million and that is the cost of the ice road crossing there, and the ferry operations, and the $2 million that we can thank the last government for as a top-up on that payment. That is $3.8 million that the government is going to have to pay whether it is in January or December of next year some time. I would like to ask the Minister where that money is going to come from and if that is the correct amount, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that. One other area that I wanted to touch on on the financial exposure, and that’s through the lien that I know of. I wonder how many liens are out there on the project itself and what future financial liability might the Government of the Northwest Territories incur because of the liens being put against the project, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

I thank the Minister for that. Does the Minister have any knowledge about what it is costing the Department of Transportation and the Government of the Northwest Territories on an annual basis to be involved in the project, as you mentioned, onsite, have staff dedicated to that and, as well, the cost of anything charged by the Department of Transportation to the Deh Cho Bridge project? What are those costs to date?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Now that the bridge is being built and DOT is involved in the project management, we have to, now more than ever, step up the oversight on the project as it moves forward. I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about the Deh Cho Bridge project. For years I’ve questioned the process that allowed the decision to build the Deh Cho Bridge. Mr. Speaker, I’m still of the opinion that both the Deh Cho Bridge Act, which was passed late in the life of the 14th Legislative Assembly, and the eventual process that allowed the Government of the Northwest Territories to enter into the concession agreement with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation was, indeed, thoroughly flawed.

The bridge is being built, Mr. Speaker, and I realize I just can’t fight the process any longer...