Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm going to deviate a little bit from my Member's statement and ask the Minister of Infrastructure some questions.
I'm wondering if the Minister could please provide us an update on the Prohibition Creek access road. It's my understanding that the bid came in too high and has not been accepted so I'm just curious to know where we're at. Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Prohibition Creek access road is one of our priorities of this Assembly and therefore it's something that we need to advance.
We did receive some funding from the federal government, ICIP funding that brings us you know, the ICIP program goes until 2028. We're still in process of phase 1. The project's broken up into two phases. The first phase includes the seven kilometre portion from Canyon Creek to the Christina Creek. The second phase is to include the remaining six kilometres of Christina Creek to Prohibition Creek. So right now, we're still in the procurement for the construction of the first phase. So we're still in that process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me whether the department plans to retender the first phase, or will there be a sole source contract going out? What is the plan now that the first tender didn't result in a successful bid? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. So right now, as I mentioned, we're still looking at some of the procurement options. We've gone back to the contractor and trying to look at ways to be able to get some of the work started. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that answer. I hope that there's an opportunity to at least break down the contract a bit then to get the work started if need be. I guess my next question is that because there is a bit of a delay now in this project, and I'm guessing because the Minister answered that we're going until 2028 with the funding that we're not in any sort of danger of losing that federal funding if we're a little bit slower with the project than planned? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last thing we want is to be able to lose some of these projects going forward, especially if that's our priority to advance. However, we still need to work through some of the procurement processes to be able to work with the contractor, our Department of Finance, perhaps go back to the feds and have a relook at some of the funding options. We'll also be chatting with Canada because we feel like this is important, it is a priority, so. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary, Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if that road or a portion of that road opens in this Assembly, will the Minister commit to taking me for the opening? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely. I mean, this is a big advancement and we're hoping to also proceed on to some of the other projects up the Mackenzie Valley Highway. Thank you.
