Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March 2010, former Minister McLeod talked about signing a contract with Ruskin for $6 million to $8 million. Minister McLeod of the day, continues to refer to the firm schedule on the Deh Cho Bridge. My question for the Minister of today, that is: Who is still responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge contracts, certainly, the implementation that is, is why isn’t the fixed price and the fixed schedule being fulfilled by our contractor Ruskin on this particular project? Thank you.

I want to acknowledge the Finance Minister’s position of calling it a business decision. That sounds a lot nicer than the words I may have used. I’d like to make a motion. I move that this committee defer consideration on the activity highways under the Department of Transportation, capital investment expenditures, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2013, on page 13, at this time.

Thank you. I’d like to use this occasion to the $10 million, or am I just ahead of myself?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to rise today to continue to speak about the Deh Cho Bridge and the fact that our contract is not being implemented as it was written out.

Back in 2010 the government heralded the new opportunity because of the situation that they had to work through the failed partnership with ATCON and they developed a new one with Ruskin directly. They negotiated a revised cost for this superstructure to complete the project, but at the time it was seen as the path forward.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to remind Members of the Honourable Michael McLeod’s comments in January 2010 in...

Earlier the Minister had assured me that, of course, they invoked the privilege of moving the motion to extend today’s sittings for as long as possible, and my point of that contradiction was knowing that one person cannot carry the fire forever. That’s what I meant about forcing the process to go. If we had followed through today’s normal schedule we would have ended at two o’clock, and we would have been able to get this type of information on the side, whether it’s in committee or have some discussions after hours. I feel terrible. I’m not trying to hold the process hostage here by any...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to use the opportunity now to speak to a couple of the other items on the list. I will start with the infrastructure projects that are seen as carry-overs. Frankly, I have been saying it for a number of years, that I am still convinced that the Department of Finance, through FMB, is allowing the capital budget to grow in the Northwest Territories in a manner that we can’t sustain. What I mean by that is we are taking on more projects than we can get done. I don’t consider an average 35 percent a good average of capital carry-overs. You will hear that some...

I find it really interesting that the Minister would invoke sub judice on a particular matter that isn’t before a court in his last comment by wrapping up the claims into future potential claims. I’d like to know what the claims Ruskin was citing as the problem from their perspective. I’d like to know what our engineers see as a particular problem, why they wouldn’t fulfill their obligation. Those are the type of things I’d like to get at.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am now prepared to start my hour-long filibuster on this particular project. I am well prepared to do what’s necessary.

The issue here before us in this supplementary appropriation is there’s still no details as to why we need to realize the extra $10 million. I’ve been after that particular answer. There still seems to be no answer other than vague ones, like trust me, our legal people say this. But what are our legal people saying? What are the complications or factors? We need to see what the issues are.

Now, there are those who suggest that this is a delay of the...

My question, of course, is: Would delays caused by the construction of the Deh Cho Bridge not be the responsibility of Ruskin to keep on track and, therefore, any cumulative costs, such as potentially running the ferry or whatever the case would be, wouldn’t that be part of their costs through our claim process?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Human Resources.

Please provide a list of senior management performance bonuses, including those to deputy ministers, assistant/associate deputy ministers, awarded in 2011-2012 in all GNWT departments, boards, agencies, commissions and corporations, by position and range, as follows:

Less than $5,000,

$5000 to $9,999,

$10,000 to $19,999,

$20,000 to $29,999, and

$30,000 and up.

What is the total amount of bonuses paid, by department, board, agency, commission and corporation?