Robert Hawkins

I think that report hedged around a $300 million figure. Is that the actual cost that we will be working from on a construction basis, and is that the figure that the public can be referring to the Inuvik-Tuk highway as the actual cost?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use the occasion today to talk about the Inuvik-Tuk highway. As you know very well, over the years you’ve heard me always say that I’ve been a supporter of the highway, and that support for the principle of the highway has not changed at all. I believe in some vision, in a manner of speaking, that it is nation building in its own way.

It is a new highway and may I remind this House, certainly the Transportation Minister and, of course, our Premier – the one that led the great vision I talked about last week in Ottawa – a new highway is supposed to be a...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

Sorry. For some reason I couldn’t hear that. It must be the ventilation or whatnot. But maybe if the Minister could repeat his answer on that. Are all four transferring to Hay River or what’s happening to the four bodies? Thank you.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. I guess I’m getting at the fact that what type of discussion and evaluation was considered in the BIP office to move?

Thanks, Mr. Chair. I’m not sure why Mrs. Groenewegen would say there we go or here we go. I think it is very short-sighted and very narrow to thinking what I’m going to…(inaudible)... Actually, I don’t disagree with some of the things she said. My issue was more about the planning and evaluation of what they did. Minister Miltenberger didn’t answer that question, which was, when we look at those jobs, which jobs exactly were they? What type of evaluation? And maybe we can hear about where they’re going. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use this opportunity to table a document. It’s a letter I wrote on January 7th to the Finance Minister, Minister Miltenberger, and it’s regarding a possible breach of the FAM Directive 3307. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

One of the critical components that has been referred to as part of the cost of this potential highway – and, of course, the final decision has yet to be made – is the royalty required by the regional government. Is an actual number pegged to what the royalty is, and why is the Government of the Northwest Territories paying for a royalty when we’ve made a concession on the road as being transferred for land and other options and we’re actually paying for the gravel? Will there be a royalty attached to the final figure of this highway and how much, if so?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to use this opportunity to follow up on my Member’s statement, which was in whole about the Inuvik-Tuk highway and some of the costs and components thereof. I guess my first question is: When will a plain-language document be available for the public to see that actually specifies and drills down what the project is and what the actual costing estimates are? That way we will have something to debate and discuss publicly before an actual vote happens in the House.

That’s fine for now. I wanted to know what they did. Thank you.