David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a big difference between building a culvert and building a $150 million bridge, that is a kilometre across the Mackenzie River. There is a huge difference there. I think the government and the Premier has all but admitted it. They haven’t gone back out with the new numbers. Sure, we talked to people in 2002. That is when the project was 60 to 70 million dollars. It is $150 million now. Is the government going to go out and consult with the stakeholders? The cost of living is going to go up here in the North Slave region and the government...

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Committee, we are on page 12, Executive, capital investment expenditures, Human Resources, not previously authorized, employee relations, $523,000, total Human Resources, $523,000.

Thank you. Total department, $1.980 million.

Now, committee, can we agree to the preamble?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact of the matter is that is 2002 dollars. It is five years later. The cost of those tolls is going to be $6.75. That is in today’s dollars. When the bridge is constructed, it will be 2010. You can rest assured, due to inflation, those costs per tonne are going to be over $7. Again, I would like to ask the Premier, where is a cost-benefit analysis of the Deh Cho Bridge project based on current factual information? That is $150 million. That is $7 a tonne. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Minister Roland.

Thank you, committee. Industry, Tourism and Investment, operations expenditures, page 10, economic development, $3.083 million, total department, $3.083 million.

Clause 6.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That money could be used in education, health care or housing. It’s just that now future governments will have no say in the matter, and that, Mr. Speaker, is a shame. Mr. Speaker, once again I will state for the record that I do support a bridge being built across the Mackenzie River but not without substantial funding from Ottawa and not without the proof from this government that costs will not increase in the city of Yellowknife or in the North Slave region. I just cannot believe the government is moving ahead with this project when it’s faced with so many...

The question was whether you would be willing to share the correspondence, Mr. Minister.