Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in Towards A Better Tomorrow, we set out the vision and priorities for this 14th Assembly. In our vision we used terms like working together, strong partnerships, taking advantage of the opportunities and sharing northern benefits. In our strategies, we said we would pursue partnership arrangements to help build infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, my constituents in Fort Providence were certainly listening. The Fort Providence Combined Council Alliance is a partnership between the Deh Gah Got'ie Kúé Dene Council, the Fort Providence Metis Council, Fort Providence Hamlet Council and the Deh Gah Got'ie Kúé Betterment Corporation. The council is proposing to work with this government to design, finance, build and operate a permanent crossing of the Deh Cho, or Mackenzie River, at Fort Providence.

-- Applause

I believe that this proposal is a good one. It promises reduced costs to business, industry, government and consumers. It will improve the reliability of transportation to over half of our population and most of our productive mineral regions. It will reduce the ongoing environmental impacts and risks to the Deh Cho. It can pay for itself and does not need to take dollars from other projects. At the end of the agreement, the bridge will be turned over to the Government of the Northwest Territories in good condition at no cost, and will continue to provide benefits to the North for decades after.

Mr. Speaker, the project approach is something new to the North that will require courage and a leap of faith and depart from the usual way of doing things. As people are beginning to understand the work done by the alliance and the proposal they are making, the initial doubts are giving way to optimism, encouragement and support. The alliance has made formal proposals to the GNWT and at this time is seeking an agreement-in-principle.

This is not a small project, Mr. Speaker. We must approach this with the care and attention that an investment of $45 million deserves. A positive response will signal that the GNWT is willing to negotiate a long-term contract arrangement that will meet everyone's interests. This sign of support will allow us to go ahead with environmental assessment, final designs and financing plans.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents I would like to thank the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the Honourable Bob Nault, and Minister of RWED, the Honourable Jim Antoine, for helping to fund the feasibility study. I would also like to thank the Minister of Transportation and Finance, the Honourable Joe Handley, and the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, for their support in developing the proposal.