Joe Handley

Mr. Speaker, I don’t think there is any delay in anything. I acted very quickly when I became aware of this incident. I have discussed this with Members. Mr. Zoe has discussed it with Members. I have taken action that I believe is appropriate. Some Members may not agree with me, but I believe what I have done, given the circumstances as I know them, is reasonable. I believe there is nothing being delayed here, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge there has been a fair bit of geotechnical work on ice conditions as well as river floe done over the years. Looking at this site for a bridge is not something that’s new to this government or even the last government. In fact, there was a lot of work done in either the 12th or 13th government where a firm was contracted to do some of these studies. We do know that the water is swift at that site and the assessment that that is still the least expensive place for the location of the bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, the GNWT has had minimal costs, in the neighbourhood of $200,000 or $300,000, that we have dedicated ourselves to the bridge project. We have, in addition to that, approved a loan guarantee for the Deh Cho Bridge project of up to $2.5 million over the last government and this current government.

Mr. Speaker, the Member asked two questions and I answered the first one. I will answer the second one, as well. The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation have, to my knowledge, basically finished the design for the bridge and we are waiting for cost estimates from them and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are now six months into the term of the 15th Legislative Assembly and much has been accomplished. In January, I told this House that I looked to the future of the Northwest Territories with enthusiasm. Since then, I have travelled to many communities and talked with many leaders and residents of the Northwest Territories. My optimism for the future has increased even more.

Today, I want to discuss how we have approached our work in the first six months of our mandate. I would also like to provide an overview of the strategic plan of the Government of...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Self-Reliant People, Communities and Northwest Territories -- A Shared Responsibility, Government of the Northwest Territories Strategic Plan, June 2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

But, Mr. Speaker, the Bridge Corporation are using the time that is available to them now to do more testing on the design of the bridge. They have made some changes to the design as a result of testing. They will be issuing a tender for the project, and we will take every step possible to ensure that there are no cost overruns. Mr. Speaker, on this size of project, that is a substantial challenge for the designers to be able to ever come up with a project that is going to be right on with no change orders. Mr. Speaker, the latest information that we have from the Bridge Corporation is...

Mr. Speaker, if you look at the agreement you will find that the GNWT’s contribution to the bridge when it is built is going to be the cost of operating the ferry, the cost of building and maintaining that ice bridge. Beyond that the costs for the bridge will be recouped through a toll. So whatever the price is, the GNWT is not assuming additional risk. The only risk we would assume would be if for some reason the bridge was never built. Then we have been guaranteeing loans to enable the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation to continue on with their planning and environmental assessment for the...

Mr. Speaker, I will check to see what information is available, and whatever I have access to I will certainly be happy to share it with the Member. In terms of commitments on the bridge, we will certainly want to know what the price is before we make a final commitment. We won’t know what that price is until the contract is tendered and we have something firm from the successful bidder. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it’s not unusual when proponents make submissions for the environmental review process to have it deemed to be incomplete. The information that was provided by the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, to my knowledge, was incomplete. The environmental review board asked for more information that is being provided. The bridge corporation tells me that the environmental review process is still scheduled to be completed by September. So at this point, I don’t have any concerns that this is going to cause a delay. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize a number of people. First of all my wife, Theresa, who is here; Barb Saunders, the executive director for the Council of Status of Women, my faithful constituent; the major for the Salvation Army, Karen Hoeft; and also, I don’t know if he’s left, but Chief Peter Liske was here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause