Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is in regards to the Fibre Optic Mackenzie Valley Project, and it's certainly a project that is financed by this government through the P3 Arrangement and would be coming onto the books here with an extended period of one year since the project was extended from last June to this coming June. So, therefore, it's the last year of work season and having knowledge of some previous contractors that haven't been paid over the last 24 months. Could the Minister of Finance ensure that he will look into this and also look into the fact of having a reserve holdback fund to offset or pay the subcontractors related to that service? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the P3 partner is actually the contractor on this particular project and they have deals worked out with the subcontractors, and we have no role to play, it's not our contract. So there's really not much we can do. Any issues that might be happening would be between the contractor and subcontractors. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I thank the Minister for his prudent project management, and looking back into the statements made by the Minister on March 3rd saying that, as per the project agreement, no deficiencies or holdbacks and unpaid bills would be left as part of this project come transfer day. Having said that and although it's not ours yet, but it will be, we want to get a clean bill of health that this project is met by standards and the technical issuance of the original contract are of P recognition. So I want to ask the Minister if a certificate will be coming that this government has supported a contractor and its subcontractors that enjoy working for this government knowing the fact that they will be paid a recognition or a certification of all bills paid come takeover day?
Mr. Speaker, the contractor has made great efforts in the Sahtu to make good on many of the outstanding invoices. There might have been a few that fell through the cracks. Apparently there was a meeting in Fort Good Hope and nothing was really raised during the meeting. As a matter of fact, it was quite positive and they were appreciative of the work they have this upcoming winter. I can say that of the $32 million in local spending, employment as long as 2016 the Sahtu has enjoyed the benefits of $21 million in project spending. I can assure the Member and all Members of this House and the general public that, as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we will ensure that we have a quality project when it's turned over to us and the lights are turned on.
Going back to a clean bill of health for all the subcontractors providing services in and outside of the Sahtu Region for the project, whether that service is coming from Fort Simpson, or other parts of Canada for that matter, it's a project that was initiated by this government and we want to ensure that we get the product that was initiated by this government as per the specifications, and a clean bill of health that all subcontractors are paid. If the Minister would provide a briefing, prior to the takeover date, that everybody is paid?
Mr. Speaker, this is a project that this government has been quite excited about, and the benefits it'll bring to technology down the valley, and of course I will keep committee apprised as to going forward. I know there's a winter bill season, that's when they are hoping to have it completed, and we are hoping to have it lit up by I believe it's this spring. So there's a short little stretch to go, but the plan is to try to have that completed this spring. But I will keep committee apprised as to the work going forward.
Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Mr. Speaker, my last question. I'm glad to hear that the lights are going to be turned on and hopefully it'll shed some light to unpaid bills. In the briefing or information supplied I know of certain companies that are in the neighbourhood of at least 17 per cent of the overall project, and the overall project is $82 million, so 17 per cent of that, approximately, is in the form of unpaid bills. So if that could be researched and confirmed by the Minister that it's going to be paid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as I said before, we are not the contractor, however we can encourage all the groups that are involved to try and resolve any outstanding issues, because we want this to be a project that's had a lot of positive effect and will have a lot of positive effect. So we'll encourage them to try and resolve their issues and then again, as I said before, I will keep committee apprised as to the proceedings.
Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
