Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on the questions by my colleagues on the Deh Cho Bridge and ask questions of the Minister of Transportation.
I’d like to start by saying that I agree that his project has been an unmitigated disaster from the get-go, and there are some good reasons for that, and we have now, as a House, put in place some policies that will help guard, to some degree, against future recurrences. I’d like to start with ATCON, the original contractor. Can the Minister assure me that we are completely severed now and there are no ongoing unresolved claims with ATCON, the original contractor, and we’re done on at least that front? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There remains one outstanding claim with ATCON that the department continues to pursue and look for a negotiated settlement to that claim.
Mr. Weledeh appreciates that response. So we have at least one other source of surprise cost coming forward in the future. Are there any other further risks that have not been mentioned today that the Minister would care to outline for us at this time?
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member’s question. No, there wouldn’t be. We still do have the sum. It was about $13 million from the Government of New Brunswick. We have remaining in that account about $7 million. That is to address deficiencies or issues after the bridge is complete. We will be able to look at some of that work. It is minor work. That funding is in place to allow that to happen. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, how long after the bridge is completed will toll collection begin? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the rate we are going, it will start on day one. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure that was the right phrasing the Minister used there, the rate we are going. I probably wouldn’t refer to that, but I appreciate the comment.
People of the Northwest Territories, as is clear from the comments of my colleagues today, have foregone a lot of infrastructure options, a lot of provision of important services. These costs will continue to accrue as we pay back the hundreds of millions of dollars in interest and so on. Will the Minister commit to avoiding any such ventures in the future where costs are for a project predicted to continue to rise way beyond the original estimates where the risks are extreme and uncertain and where there is marginal economic benefits being enjoyed by the people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member’s question. I think there is a lot to learn. I commented on Ms. Bisaro’s questions about a complete look back at the project once it’s complete. We need to ensure the upfront work is done so that we know what we are getting ourselves into. That’s what we intend to do on future projects, is do that upfront work so that we can ascertain costs and risks before we venture in. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8, oral questions, on the orders of the day. Thank you.
---Unanimous consent denied
