Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had thought I would make it through this sitting in the House without having to speak about the Deh Cho Bridge Project, but, Mr. Speaker, after listening to the Minister of Transportation’s Minister’s statement I am left with little choice but to address that statement.
Mr. Speaker, I agree with the Minister that we have to extol the benefits that this bridge will bring our residents. However, I also believe that we have an obligation to our residents to give them the straight goods on how we are going to pay for it, what our relationship will be with the community of Fort Providence, and any issues coming out of the construction of it.
Mr. Speaker, this bridge project continues to cost this government money. I have been very critical of the decisions made to get this bridge constructed; I never did and never will agree with how the last government proceeded to approve this project. Yes, they put us on that path, but, Mr. Speaker, since then this government has been responsible for making decisions and calling the shots. Decisions like sole sourcing the rest of the work to Ruskin, and the decision to continually turn a blind eye to the mismanagement of the project, whether it was claims, poor concrete, scour rock that by all accounts was not up to spec, lawsuits, contractors not being paid, the general contractor being fired, design issues, and eventually the lockdown of the construction account. Let’s just say, Mr. Speaker, the alarm bells should have been ringing for the Minister and Cabinet a long time ago.
It was their call not to act; it was their call not to pull out the default clause in the concession agreement on the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. That, Mr. Speaker, is on this government. The accountability and responsibility falls squarely at the feet of this government.
Mr. Speaker, it was very welcome news when Sheila Fraser, the Auditor General of Canada, confirmed that her office will come to the Northwest Territories to conduct a much needed audit of this project. Mr. Speaker, I do look forward to her findings and her recommendations. How do governments continue to get away with shirking responsibility?
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, I’m looking for accountability and I’m looking for governments and individuals being held responsible for the decisions that they make. If they’re not, then no lessons are learned and a vicious cycle will continue to the great detriment of the taxpayers of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
