Debates of May 14, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last week there was a good debate on discussion regarding the Premier’s sessional statement. When he said the government plans to move forward with the Mackenzie bridge over the Deh Cho without the federal funding, I understand, Mr. Speaker, that there’s money identified under the federal government under P3, but that’s still not determined how that’s going to be spent.

Mr. Speaker, on page 175 of the unedited transcript on May 9th the Premier said, and I quote, “there is also extra capital money, $25 million a year, in there. We don’t intend to use big chunks of that money for this bridge.” I have a question for the Premier, Mr. Speaker, is that, can he explain what he means by not using big chunks of that money? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The bridge, Deh Cho Bridge, is being built as a P3 project, private-public partnership. So in that arrangement, the Bridge Corporation made up of the combined community alliance will be the owner of the bridge initially. They are the ones who will borrow the money to build the bridge and it’ll be financed over 35 or so years. So the GNWT will not be using capital money for this project. The $25 million the Member refers to is money that is identified in the federal budget. It’s $25 million a year for seven years for trades-related infrastructure. We don’t have exact definitions from the federal government what that means. We have been told, though, that they’re still working on the guidelines. At this point, it is not our intention to use capital money for the Deh Cho Bridge at all. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my follow-up then is about, in the unedited transcripts, Mr. Speaker, he’s indicated that, again, I’ll say it one more time, "there is also extra capital money, $25 million a year in there. We don’t intend to use big chunks for that money." I think I’d like to ask him, like, in my interpretation of that, Mr. Speaker, is that the money there for infrastructure funding, that somehow that the government will use some of that money for part of this project? Can he explain that to me whether or not that’s what he intended to imply? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 73-15(6): Deh Cho Bridge Project

Mr. Speaker, as I said, we don’t have guidelines for that infrastructure money. We don’t know exactly what the federal government means by trades-related initiatives. At this point, as I say, we don’t intend to use capital money for the Deh Cho Bridge. The plan right now is one that the Department of Transportation and the Combined Community Alliance and the proposed contractor can do it as a P3 project without using capital money. So, Mr. Speaker, at this point I’d have to say that, without knowing the guidelines for the $25 million a year for seven years, that we don’t plan on using any of it because we don’t know what it’s going to be, exactly what it’s going to be defined for. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.