Joe Handley

Mr. Speaker, I would like to give the Assembly a status report on the progress of the Deh Cho Bridge project.

It was a little over three years ago, in February 2002, when the Fort Providence Combined Council Alliance first brought forward its proposal to form a public/private partnership that would build a bridge across the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence. The government of the 14th Assembly gave the proposal a careful review and found that the proposal was not only feasible but, in many ways, quite attractive. First and foremost was the prospect of a permanent, all-weather highway link...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The purpose of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board and the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board is to have a vehicle for northerners to have more input into decisions that are going to affect their lives and land. Both of these boards are under federal legislation. The appointment of the chair is a decision that rests with the Minister of DIAND. The appointment of the chair is -- and I don’t believe it’s laid out in the act -- but the convention is that he will appoint from a list that is provided by the committee of each of the boards themselves. So...

Mr. Speaker, I will ask my staff to try to find out today if they can get any information on it at all. They have been trying to follow this one almost daily, but we will make that effort again. If I can’t, then I assure the Member and this House that I will speak to the Minister on this when he’s here next week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I was last in Ottawa I raised this issue with our MP and the Minister responsible for Northern Development and also with Minister Scott. Mr. Roland, the Finance Minister, and I raised this issue with him. He knows our views on it and, Mr. Speaker, I’ve written to him as well on it and intend to follow up with him next week when he is here in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize a constituent, Carol Van Tighem, a tireless volunteer and the fire and vigour behind this year’s Caribou Carnival. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I’m hearing through the grapevine that the appointment is imminent. In fact, I’d heard that the security checks were already underway and so on. But I’ve had nothing from the Minister of DIAND’s office formally to tell me that this is going to be happening soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I think the committee is right and we are looking at that and, in fact, there are sections -- I think the main one is the policy and communication section -- where we may be able to integrate those responsibilities between IGRASP and MAA into one section, even before we get into the business plans for the next fiscal year, 2006-07.

Where we can, we will begin, but, Mr. Chairman, the committee’s recommendation is fair and one that we respect. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me say, first of all, that we do respect the Deh Cho process and the right of the Deh Cho people to negotiate the process that is underway right now. Our approach to this has been to be helpful and, at the same time, not be blocking anything that may be standing in the way.

At the same time, Mr. Chairman, while we want to be supportive of the Deh Cho, we also have to ensure we carry out our government responsibilities for all other regions in the Territories and other settled claims and other negotiations. We are continually needing to balance our activities and...

Mr. Chairman, we could in future take a look at doing it through Executive and have it as a standing part of our budget each year. The original contribution at one time was originally made out of RWED and then it was decided that wasn’t appropriate, that all departments should contribute to this cause. Many of the people who are selected from the Northwest Territories come from different areas. Sometimes they are long-time elders who have contributed that way. Sometimes it is people who have contributed with sports and so on. The best way is just to have it coordinated through the Executive...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.