David Ramsay

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Minister Roland.

As amended. Agreed?

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.