Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I was advised earlier this week of a potential problem of a fuel shortage at the Yellowknife Airport. We have made some inquiries. There is enough fuel in the city of Yellowknife that is provided for aeronautical needs up until next Tuesday or Wednesday, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we can provide that to the Member and to the committee at the appropriate time. I think I said we committed to find some time next week to further discuss the Deh Cho Bridge project in as much detail as we can to the committee. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. There is a revised financial forecast and absolutely your colleague had indicated that the lack of government participating with committee, but we did have a briefing in early January or February and divulged as much information as we had at that time. We did indicate at that time as well, Mr. Speaker, that the financial forecast did include increases in traffic volumes and that helps our business case. However, the tonnage was going to remain around $6 at that time. However, based on our concession agreement and inflation, those rates are flexible and can...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. What we had done as our government…because the devil is in the details and federal funding, as well we are looking at ever-increasing costs of putting off the bridge project, that it’s something we are looking at and as much federal government commitment as possible. Mr. Speaker, it’s kind of like we don’t want to put the cart before the horse in this case, but we are proceeding very often, like Mr. Braden indicated, Mr. Speaker, and that’s how we are proceeding. Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. We’ll certainly look at discussing the needs for Highway No. 5 in the current business planning cycle. Mahsi cho.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The section that we are chipsealing is kilometre 88 to 106. We are looking at the whole highway system. We are dedicating some resources to an engineering study, Mr. Speaker, that will tell us exactly what the deficiencies are on Highway No. 5 and where we must strategize and look forward to, hopefully, eventually chipsealing the whole highway. I know that’s in the Member’s long-range plan as well as ours. Mahsi.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize teachers and students from Nahanni Butte. I’d like to recognize Meagan Bertrand, Jarvis Tsetso, Logan Matou, Melvin Vital, Josh Bertrand, teacher Wayne Ingarfield, assistant Martin Pritchett, and as well as chaperone Mr. Bruce Dauphinee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That’s a very good question.

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I will do my best to answer it there, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we are looking at advancing the bridge project up to and including construction this fiscal year. It’s good economics right now. Prices have stabilized and so we are looking at advancing with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation up to construction this year, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, my first job as Minister was to go down to Ottawa and pound on the doors and meet federal Minister Cannon and advise him that this was one of our priority projects. The Deh Cho Bridge is a top priority, in fact. So over the course of Christmas and spring, our deputy minister had gone to Ottawa as well and talked with them. Of course, the federal budget unfolded, Mr. Speaker, and they did announce all kinds of money, and bureaucratically, even though they announced it, Mr. Speaker, they still had to work out the details...

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we’re looking at completing it throughout the course of the summer and this fall and certainly the areas that need immediate remediation will certainly be addressed and discussed as we sit down and discuss the capital planning this summer. Thank you.