Floyd Roland

We've been informed by the parties that the lawyers require until the third week of February — February 22, in and around that time frame — to sign off the final document. And again, if there are no changes that affect our side of the equation, it’s a go. The only reason it would come back is if they try to renegotiate a portion of that. Then it would come back to our table. If they go ahead and sign the deal, as do the banks and the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, the process is underway.

I'm sure the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, once they get a record of what is stated here, will maybe have that discussion. They have put in place, right now, their equity piece. They forwarded it. That doesn't mean that can't change or shares can’t be bought out in the future, or a number of factors fall in place. The fact is the lower their equity, the lower the guaranteed rate of return. In a sense, that helps us as a government, but it doesn't help them out. I will look to putting the information together and providing Members with the information we can get to them.

Mr. Speaker, the process starts off within the Executive and working with the appropriate departments to get the information, and at that point deciding where we proceed and what avenues we go through.

The concession agreement talks about a maximum $5 million equity portion. The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation has informed us that they do have their equity in place. It’s not up to the $5 million mark. That has an effect on the rate of return, of course.

Mr. Speaker, number one, I haven’t asked the department to provide a legal opinion. We know the facts that are on the table. We’ve been around this Assembly, this floor — a number of us, at least — for a lot of years and know the process.

Looking at the information available, I’ve made the comment…. The fact is that if we were to make a move now, we are increasing our liability in that area. Do I need a legal opinion? I think we could go get one, but I didn’t seek that. I did look at our risk position on this whole project, as this topic has been around for quite a number of years.

Mr. Speaker, the fact is…. To focus, we need to put our energy where we’re going to get the results and then working with other Finance Ministers — territorial, provincial — and bringing it to the table of the federal Finance Minister, seeking his input and, hopefully, his support. We’re waiting for his response at that point. It’s my understanding they’re looking at their budget process now.

Mr. Speaker, the fact of the 16th Assembly making a motion to get rid of that act would place us in a higher liability or risk mode, because agreements are out there. A concession agreement is in place. They’re meeting their targets. The liability would go beyond our loan guarantee of $9 million at this point.

Mr. Speaker, as we’re aware, there’s been a lot of work done by the department and Department of Community Affairs in building that program and giving more authority and increasing budgets to communities. We haven’t made a decision as to the full impact of decisions we’ll accept as areas of reduction or areas of reinvestment. So at this time it’s difficult to say what impact would be felt in any department at this point. Departments have started their work, started evaluating, have been submitting that back. That review is ongoing at this point.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct that we do have to look at that rate structure. We do have an energy committee amongst cabinet. They’re looking at the whole area of energy and how it’s produced and delivered, and that can be one of the areas they look into. Ultimately, it will come to this Assembly for a decision if we’re to make any changes, so it would have to be this Assembly that would make a decision for any actual changes.

Mr. Speaker, the information will be coming. It will be before the end of session. Hopefully within the next few days we will be able to get that into the hands of Members.

The other piece of information going out with it…. I am aware that the bridge corporation is planning to do some information sessions. I’m not sure just how they have structured that, but I am aware they are looking to get information out there about the project as well. We can have a discussion about the cost-benefit analysis that we provide to Members and see if we want to distribute that further.