David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that the GNWT does assume the risk in this because if the bridge is put in at a cost of $80 million, $90 million or $100 million, how are we possibly going to recoup that through toll revenues? It is a risk that the GNWT is going to have, and that is why I feel strongly that the Premier has to get in this agreement a firm price, and the cost overruns cannot be allowed to happen. I’ve seen it firsthand when I was a city councillor, and I’ve also seen it during the life of this last government with the jail. We have to get a firm price, and we can...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to again ask the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project, Mr. Handley, some questions. I draw his attention to two recent bridge projects in the territory that have been marred by cost overruns and a lack of pre-engineering. Willow Creek was supposed to cost $4.5 million, and ended up over $7 million. The river between Two Mountains Bridge was crushed by ice. No ice floe study was done prior to this bridge being put in. Is the Premier aware of these two bridge projects, and what will he do to ensure that these problems won’t happen with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier aware that the proposed site of the bridge at the current ferry crossing is, in fact, at the foot of the Fort Providence Rapids where the current in the river is at its fastest? Does the Premier know to date there has been no geotechnical work or ice floe studies? What will this do to the cost of the project and does this cause the Premier any concern? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know my colleagues have addressed this issue and this motion in my mind and I will applaud them for that. I won’t take up too much more time on the motion this afternoon.

I think it’s very sad that we had to go to the extent of drafting this motion today to present to the government. It should be embarrassing for the government that the regular Members on this side had to go to this length to tell the government that you have a policy and you should live by the policy. Either you are going to support the northern economy and the northern manufacturing industry or you...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That doesn’t leave me with a great deal of surety on this. The Cabinet knew about this last week, they know that today is the last day of session, Mr. Speaker. Why can’t they make a decision, why do they have to wait until tomorrow, Mr. Speaker? Why is it that the government has to wait until tomorrow to get together to make a decision like this? I can’t for the life of me think of a reason why, except for that they won’t be able to be asked in public again why they waived the BIP on this. Mr. Speaker, does the tender actually split the cost of the units with the...

Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have so much to offer visitors to our territory such as hunting, fishing, aurora viewing, other outdoor activities, cultural events, festivals and a natural beauty that, Mr. Speaker, rivals anything on our planet. The budget process has concluded this week. I just wanted to mention to the other Members of this House that I do hope we, as a group, can soon set our priorities so that we can give this industry, the 800 jobs and the $50 million it adds to our economy, the attention that it rightly deserves. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that notwithstanding Rule 4, that when this House adjourns on Wednesday, March 31, 2004, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, May 26, 2004;

AND FURTHER, that anytime prior to May 26, 2004, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just one final supplementary. Is it the government’s intention to waive the BIP on the setup of these units as well when they get into the communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that on Friday the tender closes; the one that is out there. For regular Members, this is our last opportunity in public to question the fellows on the other side of this House, and I almost feel like it is not enough time. We need to have some more debate on this, and I don’t believe the regular Members have been supplied the information that would allow us to believe that hiding under the assumption that it is for nurses, it is for teachers and things like that doesn’t preclude, Mr. Speaker, the fact that the government didn’t do its homework on this, and...