David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ve covered a lot of ground on my comments already, but again, I think it was a challenge for the committee to come to some consensus on what the amendment should be. At the end of the day, there was a lot of debate and discussion about what they should be. My feeling is there probably still is and there always will be, but that’s the nature of what we do. Fortunately, Mr. Chairman, we live in a society and a place where we can get out and listen to the public and take what we hear and try to put that into place in legislation that’s being proposed. The public hearing...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories immediately begin developing comprehensive animal protection legislation for introduction early in the life of the 17th Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all I want to thank very much my colleague Mr. Abernethy, MLA for Great Slave, for his determination in bringing this motion forward. It’s not an easy thing to do and I think he has shown a lot of courage and conviction in bringing this issue forward to the House today in an effort to get some answers for the family. I couldn’t agree with him more in his statement that the family deserves answers.

Stanton has to be taken to task for providing answers. We owe it to the public that we serve to have answers provided to that family. It’s this family in this case and...

Thank you. I find it highly convenient that the government would waive the requirement to give Members at least 14 days’ notice regarding the indemnity the day before the concession agreement was signed and I’d like to ask the Minister who ultimately is going to take responsibility for that happening. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 7, oral questions. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department also states in the Auditor General’s report that Members were kept informed of the financial requirements of the project. In February 2008, the regulations were amended to allow for an indemnity in the lender protection agreement in favour of the trustee and the lenders. Whose decision was that to change the regulations and how they notified the Members of those regulations being changed? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to continue to ask a few questions about the Minister’s statement regarding the Deh Cho Bridge. The Minister also talks about the contractor providing the Department of Transportation with a revised construction schedule. That comes as news to me. I am glad he mentioned it today. He also talks about the department evaluating this to determine whether the contracted completion date can be met. Mr. Speaker, a schedule, to me, would outline when the construction on that project can be complete. Is that date still November of 2011, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I take exception to the Minister referring to me as instigating the Auditor General into taking a look at this project. I have had questions about this project going back seven years. Mr. Speaker, apparently I am not alone. If you read the Auditor General’s report, there are a lot of issues that I have addressed over the years that are clearly articulated in here as being an issue.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister talks about all the risks being addressed. Where is the budget for the remaining other work like the electrical distribution, the catwalks, the cost of resolving claims, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve got some questions today for the Minister of Transportation regarding the Auditor General’s report on the Deh Cho Bridge. I listened quite clearly to the Minister’s statement from earlier today where on page 2 he says we continuously identify risks and track mitigation measures. I am confident that we are adequately managing risks to ensure the highest standards of quality and safety are maintained in this project.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister says that, but quite clearly in the Auditor General’s report risk management is certainly called into question by the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure met on February 16, 2011, to review Bill 19, Municipal Statutes Amendment Act. Following a clause-by-clause review, a motion was carried to report Bill 19 to the Assembly as ready for Committee of the Whole.

This concludes the committee’s general comments on Bill 19. Individual Members may have additional questions or comments as we proceed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.