Mr. Speaker, I do have a bridge question. It’s not quite as exciting as the other Members have portrayed, but I do have some questions on process and inclusion on the project.
Mr. Speaker, a constituent came to me the other day and wanted to be assured on a couple of matters, and the fact is they were all dollar-related issues. And again, for the record, was the ramping-up portion of the bridge project included in the overall tender? We know what the cost of the actual bridge is. I want to know about the earthworks and the work included for bringing the road right up to the bridge. I want to make sure that’s included.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I didn’t get who you were addressing your question to.
The Minister of Transportation.
Mr. Speaker, I want to let the people know that the cost is all in one price, in terms of what we have indicated over a number of days in the House, in terms of the cost of building the Deh Cho Bridge.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to know how much federal money has been sought after in this particular project — the Deh Cho Bridge project, that is. How much has been found today for this project, and what is this Minister doing to get more federal money for this project? I’m speaking specifically to federal money raised, which department it’s come from, and is he hammering on the door of the federal Minister?
I will allow the Minister to answer. There are three questions there, so I will take that as three supplementary questions.
Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, along with this government, has requested $50 million from the federal government. We haven’t yet received a response from the federal government. The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation has been working with the Department of Indian Affairs in terms of the $5 million equity that has been outlined with the Department of Indian Affairs, and they are working through a process of how much they can obtain of the $5 million. That is still ongoing.
Mr. Speaker, this government, all Northerners continue working with the aboriginal governments, with communities in terms of building infrastructure down in the Mackenzie Valley, right across the Northwest Territories in terms of having the federal government own up to their responsibilities of putting in significant infrastructure right across the Territories. I’d be very happy to work with committee in terms of some of these projects that they’ve identified over the last couple of weeks in terms of the infrastructure needs in their communities.
