David Ramsay

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. From discussions I’ve had with constituents, there’s no training currently for P2s in the Northwest Territories when it comes to mine training. They have to leave the Territory and go to Ontario or other jurisdictions to receive the training. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister, would the government be looking at creating a mine training school or something to that effect here in the Northwest Territories in the near future? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it only makes sense to me that if there are any residents here in the Northwest Territories that require training, the requisite training to be employed at a producing diamond mine, that they get the training here in the Northwest Territories and are employed here in the Northwest Territories. There’s much more likelihood that they would continue to live in the Northwest Territories while working at the mine. I’m just wondering if the Minister could just elaborate a little bit on how exactly the government is going to work, his department and other government departments and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement, the contract with Ruskin was signed off I believe just yesterday. Considering that contract has been signed off, I’m wondering why the government is reluctant to let the public know the details behind their relationship with the lenders and the disposition financially of this project.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Finance what would an additional $165.5 million do to our debt wall and our ability to borrow for other projects.

We’re pressing forward, we have negotiated a one-sided deal with one company. Again, the public purse is not being protected here. Mark my words, we have set ourselves up for further cost overruns on this project by not tying off all of the loose ends. Taxpayers will again be taken for another ride on the second half of this project. We have set the stage, Mr. Speaker, for it to be a very expensive ride.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again today, that this project has the possibility of crippling the Territory’s finances. Mr. Speaker, this is the sad reality we are faced...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, March 8, 2010, I’ll move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly requests that the Auditor General of Canada undertake a special audit of the Deh Cho Bridge Project and report thereon to the Legislative Assembly; and further, that this audit investigate the long-term financial implications of the partnership arrangement, compliance with the Financial Administration Act, Deh Cho Bridge Corporation Act and the financial policies of the Government of the Northwest...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t hear the Minister close the door to looking at some possible solutions and working with the residents and the City of Yellowknife. I’d like to ask the Minister if he could perhaps designate somebody in his department to spearhead those efforts with the City of Yellowknife and the residents of Northland Trailer Park so that the government is up to date and up to speed on what exactly is happening there in finding potential solutions. Thank you.

So, Mr. Speaker, what I’m hearing the Minister say is the government would rather just wait until a potential disaster happens and these pipes fail, these residents are left homeless, and we have the health issues and the social issues that will be certainly a burden on this government. Are we waiting for that to happen and how come we aren’t being proactive, Mr. Speaker, in dealing with this situation? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to follow up on a statement and lend my support to a statement made by my colleague from Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro, yesterday about the situation presently at play with Northland Trailer Park located in her riding of Frame Lake here in the city of Yellowknife.

Northland Trailer Park is home to close to 1,000 residents, Mr. Speaker. They are sitting on top of infrastructure that should have been replaced well over 15 years ago. Just last week a section of sewer line failed and 300 feet of aboveground line was put in as an interim measure. Make no mistake, Mr...

Mr. Speaker, when might that be? Are we talking a week? Are we talking a month? Are we talking three months, Mr. Speaker? I’m wondering if the Minister could be a little bit more specific when the government is going to have all the pieces wrapped up so that they can go to the local media with the financial situation that is at play with the Deh Cho Bridge Project. Thank you.