Robert Bouchard

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a question about the fibre optic link contribution, the $7 million. Is that an interest cost or can we capitalize it?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is about the NWT Heritage Fund. We have guidelines in place on that contribution and what those funds will be used for in the future. Is there a buffer time zone that we don’t withdraw that money within the first 10 years of the fund or is there any kind of guidelines?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m just looking at the taxation revenues. I’m just looking at the projection, the main estimates for 2012-13 and ’13-14. Obviously, we’re seeing an increase, if you compare those numbers, but the revised estimates have us at $312 million. I’m just wondering why we wouldn’t project that same type of number and why that number has jumped up from our main estimates and would we not expect that in the future years to come?

Mr. Speaker, I am wondering if the department has been in contact with some of those people that had the infractions already and maybe they’re having to work through Justice, but they informed them that this is a program that is coming forward and will be implemented within the next three to six months.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are in response to the Minister of Transportation’s Alcohol Ignition Interlock Program. I’m just wondering when the Minister and the department expect the regulations to be in place to implement these units.

Just for my clarity, then, this is a payment we’re going to make to an entity that takes in all the partners in the fibre optic link.

Mr. Chair, is there any expectation over the next few years to start to contribute more to this fund?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to discuss one of the commissions that are going around the Northwest Territories, the NWT Electoral Boundaries Commission. I’d like to talk about this commission and its involvement throughout the communities. Right now they are in the process of doing public consultation and we’ve given them direction to go out in the Northwest Territories and get opinions from the residents of the Northwest Territories to see what we do for electoral districts. Do we want 18, 19 or 21 MLAs?

They had a meeting last night in Hay River and it was very poorly attended, sadly...

The other area of interest of mine is, obviously, dredging, and this goes in line with marine. The Minister has already committed to providing some financial assistance to looking at the Hay River dredging, but I’m just wondering if the department is looking to roll out more of a plan for dredging. I’m not just concerned about Hay River dredging. I think there are some other areas of concern. Dredging, you know, maybe some, potentially, in Inuvik and some in Norman Wells. What is the department looking at as far as a dredging program through the Northwest Territories?

Thank you, Madam Chair. My questions are along the ferry operation as well. I know the Minister has answered some of them with Mr. Dolynny’s questions, but I’m just wondering about the strategy that the department is going to come with all the ferries. I have heard also that the ferry in Fort McPherson, they would like to upgrade it as well. I’m just wondering when the department is going to analyze and decide if they’re going to move the Merv Hardie up to Tsiigehtchic, maybe the Louis Cardinal moves up to Fort McPherson, and then we would have a spare ferry. When would the department be...