David Ramsay

Thank you. Yes, with NorthwesTel and we’ve also had discussions with the NWT Power Corporation for using the bridge and the conduit in the bridge, and that would be done on a chargeback basis. Thank you.

Thanks, Madam Chair. That was 1990 and in relation to that agreement, we are responsible for ferry landings and I think that’s what the Member is alluding to, the fact that DOT is responsible for dredging near ferry landings, but definitely we’re not responsible for a port like Hay River, to dredge that port. Thank you.

First off, we haven’t made any decisions on the project. We’re still a ways off on making those decisions. Secondly, that is a very hypothetical question. Thank you.

I would have to get that detail for the Member. There was a little bit when, I believe it was in the 15th Assembly, we had to find $11 million to use for the upgrades to the main terminal building. But prior to that, probably 2001 was the last time that fees were reviewed. I believe it was just specific to landing fees in 2006, that we had to find an offset for the $11 million to upgrade the terminal at YZF.

No.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. To my right is deputy minister of Transportation, Mr. Russell Neudorf and to my left is the assistant deputy minister of DOT, Mr. Daniel Auger.

I am pleased to be here today to present the Department of Transportation’s proposed main estimates for the 2013-2014 fiscal year. The department is requesting a total budget of $117 million, including amortization. This represents a net decrease of $3.4 million, or 2.8 percent, from the previous budget.

The net decrease in the Department of Transportation’s budget for 2013-2014 includes an increase to amortization expenses of $3.7 million, an increase for forced growth of $2.4 million, and a number of other adjustments with a net decrease of $7.2 million mainly associated with the Deh Cho...

Mr. Speaker, the benefits are that we’re not waiting, there is access to the North Slave region 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is convenience. It’s good for transportation companies. It will be great for university students coming back from university in May. They won’t have to face leaving their vehicles in Hay River and fly to Yellowknife and then fly back to Hay River to pick up their vehicles.

It went into the contract. There were extra costs associated with accelerating the contract in order to get the bridge open by November 30th, and if the Member wants to find exactly where...

Mr. Speaker, that horse left the barn about six years ago. There have been a number of questions that have been asked over the years. I don’t believe it does us much good to be beating a dead horse. The bridge is open. If the Member wants specifics on what exactly that $10 million was used for, that money was used to get the contract complete by November 30th so that the bridge could be put into service and that’s exactly what we did. The government was intent on getting that bridge put into service on November 30th. There was a cost to do that. That is what we did, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.