David Ramsay

The Deh Cho Bridge Project has been a project underway for the past several years. There have been a number of questions asked in the House related directly to the line of questioning the Member has. I would certainly be more than happy to get the Member and committee the dates and times where public consultation has taken place on this.

The bridge is set to open here in a few weeks. The tolling has been in place. The tolling system has been in place and the tolls have been well known now for a number of years, and we intend to open the bridge here in the next few weeks.

Our belief as a government and department is that the cost will be offset because companies will have to stockpile goods. They will not have to store goods. There will not be the need for refrigerated units. There will be no need to fly things over during freeze-up and breakup. Those costs in warehousing that will be saved, the feeling is it will be a wash. Certainly, the toll that transportation companies are going to have to pay, it will be up to the companies whether or not and how they pass that onto businesses that they do business with.

We haven’t got a firm date but it should be, the expectation is by the end of November. If it can happen before that, we’ll be advising the House of such.

We’re always looking to other jurisdictions. We always are paying attention to what other jurisdictions do, and through organizations like Westec and working with other Transportation Ministers, especially in Western Canada. That’s certainly an area where we can bring our concerns to the table and have them addressed. We certainly look forward to continuing to build relationships with other jurisdictions, especially here in Western Canada when it comes to regulations in the trucking industry.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve had success in the past working with both Nunavut and the Yukon Territory in advancing marketing initiatives, and I look back to Northern House in the Vancouver Olympics. Through our involvement in the Pacific Northwest Economic Region with PNWER, we are exploring ways that we can work with the State of Alaska and the Yukon government to pursue some joint marketing initiatives under that banner. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do.

We’ve brought in an extra I believe it was a plough truck from the Buffalo River camp. So far today it looks like the snow has abated. But as needed, I believe if we are hit with another episode of snow and heavy snowfall in the area, we do have equipment in other places in the South Slave and, if need be, that would be called into action. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the traditional economy is an important source of income for many Northwest Territories residents and one of the sectors that this government supports as part of our goal of a diversified economy. Today I would like to share some good news about our Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program.

We are at the threshold of a new trapping season. Last year’s wild fur sold for record prices, resulting in nearly $2 million in income and program benefits for our trappers. This was the best year for sales in 23 years and prospects for this coming year are positive, as demand from China and Russia...

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right is assistant deputy minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Ms. Kelly Kaylo, and to my left is Deputy Minister Peter Vician.

I thank the Member for the question. Yes, we do and we’ve advanced with the winter schedule for the Enterprise camp already. The other camps I’d have to check on, but I do know that we’ve gone to a winter schedule for maintenance with the Enterprise camp. Thank you.