Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier about the Frank Channel Bridge earlier today. I also spoke about the federal government and the impossible road to the mines. We have a lot of Ministers. The Minister that is here, the Minister of Finance, my question is directed to the Minister of Finance. [End of translation]
[Microphone turned off] ...spending on the less critical Slave geological transportation corridor. Mr. Speaker, I guess we have to juggle the departments, but I will ask the Minister of Finance: could the Minister of Finance please explain how the Slave Geological Transportation Corridor took precedence over one simple bridge project on which the corridor usefulness is entirely based on? Mr. Speaker, I am referring, of course, to the replacement of the Frank Channel Bridge. Masi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister of Finance.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are any number of projects that are constantly being evaluated across the Northwest Territories, and it's not that one takes precedence over another. There are a number of factors that go into evaluating these projects and a number of factors that go into evaluating which projects are supported. Ultimately, this particular project, I understand that money was sought from the National Trade Corridors Fund, and that kind of funding would support and assist in moving this project forward. As far as any specific reason why that project might have been denied or put down on the list, I would have to get back on the Member on that, other than to say that there is a recognition that there is any number of projects that would all like to be advanced. We are going to simply have to distribute those resources to one project at a time sometimes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
That leads to my next question about being transparent. I want to see for myself if this Minister's department has given sufficient weight to the Frank Channel Bridge replacement project. With this in mind, could the Minister of Finance, working with her colleague, the Minister of Infrastructure, please provide historical data comparing her department's submissions, milestones, application timelines, intergovernmental meetings, relating to the Frank Channel Bridge and the Slave Geological Transportation Corridor.
The Member raises quite an exhaustive list of items that are being requested, some of which, to the extent that they are involving other governments, may not be items that I can directly disclose. What I would suggest is that I certainly will arrange for a technical briefing in conference with the appropriate standing committee and ensure that I work with the Member so that as much information meets with the requests that are being made here in order to prepare for that briefing.
Obviously, I would like to see some sort of correspondence between the federal government and the territorial government. There has been a lot of discussion on this subject, even from previous governments until today. I am asking the Minister of Finance to table this in the House, her department's, and also the Minister of Infrastructure's department, most recent proposal for federal, national, trade corridor funding respecting the Frank Channel Bridge replacement project.
I anticipate that that application was made by Infrastructure, so I will certainly be in contact with the responsible Minister and ensure that we work together to put to the House what is disclosable and appropriate so that we can ensure that we are being transparent and that we continue to move forward in applying for whatever funding is available for all of the many infrastructure projects that are still necessary, including the Frank Channel Bridge that the Member is speaking to specifically.
Thank you, Minister. Member for Monfwi.
Masi, Mr. Speaker. My final question, obviously, pertains to the process. When I spoke to our MP, Michael McLeod, a couple of months back, he was also asking about the proposal, the bridge, the Frank Channel Bridge, if it was submitted. I just want to ask the Minister of Finance if there was a submission made for the Frank Channel Bridge with the federal government, the corridor funding. If I can get some sort of correspondence pertaining to that, Mr. Speaker, I would greatly appreciate it. Masi.
I will personally look into this and see what the status of any applications are. I don't know offhand. Certainly, it's not a new project, and it is an important project. I will look into it, and see that I respond directly to the Member, and that any information that can be tabled in this House, that we do so this session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.
