Daniel McNeely

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm going to have questions for the Minister of Finance on the fibre optic project. I understand it was initially started as a two-year project with a one-year extension, so given the fact that this is going to be the last year I'm kind of hoping that the wave of solidarity might be wishful thinking, but I'm going to ask anyway from my side having not experienced yesterday. However, this is a project that is going to be an ownership by this government for the people and at a significant price tab and I'm particularly going to ask questions and get the assurances...

Going back to a clean bill of health for all the subcontractors providing services in and outside of the Sahtu Region for the project, whether that service is coming from Fort Simpson, or other parts of Canada for that matter, it's a project that was initiated by this government and we want to ensure that we get the product that was initiated by this government as per the specifications, and a clean bill of health that all subcontractors are paid. If the Minister would provide a briefing, prior to the takeover date, that everybody is paid?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is in regards to the Fibre Optic Mackenzie Valley Project, and it's certainly a project that is financed by this government through the P3 Arrangement and would be coming onto the books here with an extended period of one year since the project was extended from last June to this coming June. So, therefore, it's the last year of work season and having knowledge of some previous contractors that haven't been paid over the last 24 months. Could the Minister of Finance ensure that he will look into this and also look into the fact of having a reserve...

Mr. Speaker, my last question. I'm glad to hear that the lights are going to be turned on and hopefully it'll shed some light to unpaid bills. In the briefing or information supplied I know of certain companies that are in the neighbourhood of at least 17 per cent of the overall project, and the overall project is $82 million, so 17 per cent of that, approximately, is in the form of unpaid bills. So if that could be researched and confirmed by the Minister that it's going to be paid? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I thank the Minister for his prudent project management, and looking back into the statements made by the Minister on March 3rd saying that, as per the project agreement, no deficiencies or holdbacks and unpaid bills would be left as part of this project come transfer day. Having said that and although it's not ours yet, but it will be, we want to get a clean bill of health that this project is met by standards and the technical issuance of the original contract are of P recognition. So I want to ask the Minister if a certificate will be coming that this government has supported a contractor...

Okay. Well, would the Minister support, let's say, the other Department of Lands to initiate this operational oversight committee?

Mr. Speaker, a simple yes or no would have been appropriate so we can move on to creating some jobs for the reclamation, but, yes, I'm quite familiar with the activities in my area and the interim reclamation permit sought by the company. In taking a more proactive role in the responsibilities of devolution, I think we shouldn't sit back and wait. If we had –

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I ask the questions on the Norman Wells reclamation to the Minister of ITI, and it includes a number of factors, and I wish not for the information to be relayed onto the two departments that are devolutionally responsible for land management, environmental resources, and so on. So if I can get some clarification on the questions that I asked? Number one is, everybody knows that Norman Wells has contributed a great wealth to the shareholders. The shareholders are the federal and the private shareholder, Imperial Oil, holding two-thirds and the feds holding one...

My last question. I'm surprised to see this government really not taking an active role in the responsibilities inherited on April 1, 2014. Let the listeners be judgmental of that come midterm review next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

My question is: are we going to get a yes or a no?