Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I committed to working with the Member, and Members of this Assembly, and organizations, we can also use the work that’s been done through Municipal and Community Affairs with communities across the Northwest Territories. So I’m prepared to sit down and look at what options are available to us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, across the North and in many of our communities, it is an ongoing challenge to have staff in all of our positions that are available. We do look for opportunities and options that may be available to us. So I would be prepared to work with Members of this Assembly to see what avenues we may be able to look at to try to lighten that area or relieve the workload or put people in places. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Pursuant to section 32.1(2) of the Financial Administration Act, I wish to table the following document entitled Interactivity Transfers Exceeding $250,000 for the Period April 1st, 2007, to September 30th, 2007. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, as well, would like to recognize Mr. Vern Jones, president of the NWT Metis Council and Metis Nation and president of the Hay River Metis Local. Also, Mr. Ken Hudson, who is the president of the Fort Smith Metis Local; Ms. Kara King, president of the Fort Resolution Metis Local; Shannon Cumming, chief negotiator for the Metis; John Klassen, chief negotiator for Canada; and Gerald Read, chief negotiator for the GNWT. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not aware of what discussions took place, whether it’s between department and the City of Yellowknife. I’m aware at this stage there’s a number of projects that are being reviewed. We have yet to sign a framework agreement with Canada. Part of that framework agreement comes with their criteria of what’s going to be in there, and we’re prepared to sit down and look at opportunities and options with any party out there when it comes to a number of projects. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the area of our infrastructure plan, much like our O and M, operations and maintenance budget that we put before the Assembly, the process through our business planning stage and main estimates process will be the avenue that we will have all Members have their input on and which projects should be of higher priority than others. We’re going to be faced across the board in every department with trying to come up with a plan that will fit and balance the needs of the Territories and departments and we’re going to have to work with Members of the Assembly.

Now...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of a public inquiry is one thing, but going back to the question, I guess the decision of a previous government, in a sense, what would that accomplish for us? I would instead say, as the 16th Assembly, and as the Premier of the 16th Assembly, I would undertake a review of the processes and the outstanding issues around that project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although the Member doesn’t want to go back to the history, the question does go back to the history. A decision was made by a previous government. We’re in a place where there are a number of factors that have to be met for us to honour that agreement. There is no contractual signing for steel or construction. That will be done through the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation once they have all their pieces lined up. That’s where we are right now with the project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would state the same thing I stated when the question was asked in the form it was asked, that there are some key, as an out quote from unedited Hansard of October 19th, “There are some key issues that are still left out there and one of those that was in the paper for public interest was that navigable waters permit. So that’s one of those things, and a final financing deal that comes down.” So there’s a number of factors. Right now we’re liable for the loan guarantee that’s in place until these requirements are met. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whether we’re splitting hairs or not, I responded to the questions that were given to me about the liability, about some of the commitments that we’ve made. Yes, I know it is a sensitive issue, but a decision had been made. In hindsight, I could go back and say, if the question was asked of me, I would have to respond in the affirmative, and maybe I should have at that point, but I was taking questions from every Member on every portfolio. So I apologize if I wasn’t sincere enough or clear enough, but, as Hansard would show, I was responding to the...