David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thirty-five years. Thank you.

Like I mentioned earlier in answering other questions, in March it became apparent that the project would not be able to be completed in November. We had to go back. We had to look at a way to ensure that the project would be complete in November. We didn’t really want to look at another year’s delay in the project which, undoubtedly, would cost us more money. There were a number of outstanding claims associated with the project. This wraps it all up. It gives budget surety. It gives schedule surety so that we can see the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge. We’re looking forward to the day when...

Mr. Speaker, it’s in our best interests as a government to work with the contractor to move forward and not look back. I believe the negotiated settlement in completing the project and working with Ruskin is a much better approach than going back and dealing with the long list of claims and being stuck in court for a number of years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Deh Cho Bridge is a major piece of public infrastructure that will serve the people of the Northwest Territories for years to come. This government intends to finish the bridge and have it open to traffic this year. I rise today to update Members and the public on steps the Department of Transportation and Ruskin Construction are taking to ensure our commitment becomes a reality.

Ruskin Construction has made considerable progress in the last six months. They have erected the two pylons, strung all the supporting cables and installed a third of the deck panels...

Madam 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 tell you about the remarkable sales of Northwest Territories wild furs this year and the government initiatives that support and promote this important economic sector.

Over $300,000 worth of genuine Mackenzie Valley furs were sold at the most recent wild fur sale held in North Bay, Ontario, last week. Beaver pelts, which had previously been underperforming at...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The idea conceptually of an aviation memorial and the government’s involvement in that is a good one and is something I have made a commitment to the Member previously that the government would be interested in doing.

As these things go, there are a lot of, obviously, aviation companies, businesses, families. There are a lot of issues that would have to be covered in the development of a memorial. We haven’t received a proposal from any interested party in the development of a memorial. If that was going to happen, we would certainly work with whoever it was that...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is something that we would give some consideration to if we were to receive such a proposal.

I certainly would be interested in doing that and I will take that back to my officials at the Department of Transportation to see how that could happen. Thank you.

With over $1.3 million of harvested fur, and that money going back into communities around the Northwest Territories, it is important if there are opportunities for other species and the need arises for workshops, for otter, in this case, that’s something that the department would certainly look at providing to communities.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the Members for the opening comments on ITI’s budget.

I will start with some of the comments Mr. Yakeleya made. I agree with him; I think it is a tough balancing act in looking at sustainable development and protecting the environment. There is a lot going on in the Sahtu these days with the development of the Canol Trail. It is very exciting. There have obviously been a number of opportunities there for residents to look at job opportunities. There have been opportunities for businesses there. That will continue into this summer and into next winter. Again, it...