David Ramsay

Thank you, Madam Chair. I haven’t been given a real comforting answer by the Minister. If he spends half a million in additional money in implementing PeopleSoft 8.9, what assurances do we have that we are not wasting another half a million dollars and next year we aren’t going to waste some more? We’ve come to a certain point with PeopleSoft. We’ve spent $8 million and it’s still not working. I think at some point in time somebody is going to have to answer some questions. Why isn’t it working? Who customized it? Why did it happen and why are we still paying the price? Somebody has to...

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Thank you, committee. We’ll continue on page 14, Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, education and culture, special warrants, $2.170 million, not previously authorized, $3.555 million, total department, special warrants, $2.170 million and not previously authorized, $3.555 million. Agreed?

Thank you, Minister Roland. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Does the committee agree that Bill 18 is ready for third reading, as amended?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, August 22, 2007, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the GNWT undertake and disclose updated economic modeling showing the Deh Cho Bridge project’s anticipated socio-economic impact and benefits, as it did in 2003; and further that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the GNWT defer signing any further agreements concerning the Deh Cho Bridge until after the 16th Assembly is in office. Thank you.

Thank you, committee. Page 13, Health and Social Services, capital investment expenditures, not previously authorized, community health programs, $417,000, total department, $417,000.

Page 12, Executive, capital investment expenditures, Human Resources, not previously authorized, employee relations, $523,000, total Human Resources, $523,000. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, committee. To the bill as a whole?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all I have been critical of with the government is I just want to see the proof. Show me the proof and I can support the project. The government hasn’t been able, for whatever reason, to show me the proof that the cost of living in Yellowknife and in the North Slave region will not go up if this bridge is built.

I would like to ask the Premier if these numbers, that is $150 million, that is $7 a tonne or $6.75 a tonne, has been shopped around to stakeholders here in the North Slave region. I am talking about industry, transportation companies...

Thank you, Minister Roland. Mrs. Groenewegen.