Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the concession agreement is the lead agreement under the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation’s arrangements for the development, design and construction operations and maintenance and management of the bridge.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re working, the staff is working to its greatest potential in terms of opening the Mackenzie ferry at Fort Providence. We’re hoping that it will be done as soon as possible, Mr. Speaker. I’m reluctant to give a specific time because I will be held to it. We have to have the weather on our side in terms of the water, the level of the water, and if that can be resolved, then certainly the Member will be notified through my office as soon as the ferry is open. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The situation here has been determined by the low water we have in the Mackenzie River and that’s why the ferry isn’t operating now; it hit the bottom of the Mackenzie. We’re assessing it and will see how soon we can have the ferry up and running in terms of ensuring that traffic is flowing on a more consistent basis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is no list. If there is a list, there are many lists of many projects that are looked at. We are going to consider that in Cabinet. Once we have decided that in Cabinet, we will come to the committee and look at the list, if there is a list. Right now, there is no list.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am working very closely with Minister McLeod. He is the lead Minister on infrastructure funding under the Canada build fund. I will bring that up with the Minister in terms of the issue of the Yellowknife bypass road, in terms of many other infrastructures that we wanted, balancing investment down the Mackenzie Valley in terms of these specific priorities. I will bring the issue of the amount of energy and resources that we have spent on this department on the Deh Cho Bridge by my department in terms of this issue here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the loan guarantee is $9 million.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have to request the parties of the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation in terms of that specific information. I will be happy to share it with the Member when I do have that information.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of benefits to the Deh Cho Bridge. However, Mr. Speaker, I want to say that this involves a lot of parties and communities like Fort Providence, Behchoko and Yellowknife Members here. Mr. Speaker, the Premier has committed the review of this process. I will be working closely with the Premier and the Members of this House to that commitment.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will have to double check, but I believe so.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if I had the power to raise the water, I would raise other things in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this is an annual issue with the low level of water in the Mackenzie River specifically around the Fort Providence crossing, and certainly other seasons have seen better times. Of course, this season we’re dealing with this issue here and hopefully that, again, I thank our staff for doing a wonderful job at this crossing to ensure that we do have our ferry up and running as quickly as possible. Thank you.