Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of a public inquiry is one thing, but going back to the question, I guess the decision of a previous government, in a sense, what would that accomplish for us? I would instead say, as the 16th Assembly, and as the Premier of the 16th Assembly, I would undertake a review of the processes and the outstanding issues around that project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, although the Member doesn’t want to go back to the history, the question does go back to the history. A decision was made by a previous government. We’re in a place where there are a number of factors that have to be met for us to honour that agreement. There is no contractual signing for steel or construction. That will be done through the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation once they have all their pieces lined up. That’s where we are right now with the project. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would state the same thing I stated when the question was asked in the form it was asked, that there are some key, as an out quote from unedited Hansard of October 19th, “There are some key issues that are still left out there and one of those that was in the paper for public interest was that navigable waters permit. So that’s one of those things, and a final financing deal that comes down.” So there’s a number of factors. Right now we’re liable for the loan guarantee that’s in place until these requirements are met. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, whether we’re splitting hairs or not, I responded to the questions that were given to me about the liability, about some of the commitments that we’ve made. Yes, I know it is a sensitive issue, but a decision had been made. In hindsight, I could go back and say, if the question was asked of me, I would have to respond in the affirmative, and maybe I should have at that point, but I was taking questions from every Member on every portfolio. So I apologize if I wasn’t sincere enough or clear enough, but, as Hansard would show, I was responding to the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as the decision was made by the previous Assembly to proceed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’ve asked all Cabinet Ministers to provide me with a letter today on their priorities, where they think they would fit best. I will then review that, take into consideration the running of departments, where the fit would work, and hopefully I can make some decisions early next week. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if this is the first time in the history of a new government that on the first day one person should have all the information.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I am willing to take on that challenge and so does the rest of Cabinet. I have committed already that we will re-evaluate how this is going, the implementation of that. As soon as we go through the assignments of portfolios to Ministers, they will be tasked with a number of items. Then one of the first things we will have to start doing is building that strategic plan that we will, together as...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley highway is something that has been discussed as one of the lists we’ve raised with the federal government as the new roads and highways are still under their mandate and would look at that. Ultimately, I believe it is more a thing of, first and foremost, because there are some commitments out there made by government that, you know, we’re taking over and we have to honour, at least at this point until conditions are met or not met; the area of is it one versus the other? I think we have to sit down and highlight what are the key...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, that is the beauty of our system, consensus government. As we sit down and look at the priorities of the 16th Legislative Assembly, if it is agreeable by Members of this Assembly that we take a serious look at how that is structured and how it may be restructured, that is something that we will work together on. I will commit to working with Members on looking at the effectiveness and efficiency of government across the board. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the loan guarantee is what we would be liable for if things did not proceed at this point. That’s it. That’s the number there, but I believe it’s not $5 million, it’s a bit more than that, but that was shared with Members and I believe they’re aware of that. Thank you.