David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Member for the question, but that’s more of an operational question. It would be something that I would be more than happy to go back to the department with and provide the Member with the answer. Thank you.

This contract dates back a number of years. I wouldn’t be able to comment on the decision of the previous government.

Mr. Speaker, there always could be potentially unforeseen circumstances, but again, my expectation – and I have been following this project closely for a number of years – is that this will be the final ask of this government to see the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge in November of this year. We can move on after that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In negotiating a way forward, and negotiating with Ruskin on the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge, I mentioned this earlier in response to another question, if we don’t open the bridge in November, it’s an immediate $9 million hit to the Government of the Northwest Territories. What we’ve done is negotiated our way out of a number of construction claims on the project that run in the millions of dollars, somewhere probably around $10 million. This way we’re going to move forward. Yes, it is going to cost us some more money, but we’re getting budget certainty and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. All expectations are that this will be the final ask. It’s going to allow us to have the bridge open this fall. We have also negotiated an end to the claims back and forth on the construction of the project. This is going to be something that we continue to pursue until the bridge is complete in November. Thank you.

I’m not a lawyer and that’s a hypothetical question.

I’m not sure if the Member is looking for a once it’s completed operational cost or if he’s looking for an annual cost on what the payback would be on that bridge over 35 years. I’m unable to answer much of what the question was. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re bound to getting this project completed by November. We’re bound to protecting the public purse. We’ve negotiated a settlement to all the outstanding claims. That’s what we’re bound to. We’re trying to move forward. There’s no sense in fighting with the contractor. We need to move forward and put our differences behind us and get the project complete by November. That’s what we’re bound to.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, it doesn’t. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member’s question. I think there is a lot to learn. I commented on Ms. Bisaro’s questions about a complete look back at the project once it’s complete. We need to ensure the upfront work is done so that we know what we are getting ourselves into. That’s what we intend to do on future projects, is do that upfront work so that we can ascertain costs and risks before we venture in. Thank you.