Mr. Speaker, sometimes it's very difficult to understand reasons why people would put forward an application for an environmental review. My understanding is that the concern was expressed by the NWT Chamber of Mines because of costs to the mining industry. That then triggered a letter from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, who forwarded it to the land and water board and then we were into the process. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to try to interpret the thinking by the Chamber of Mines, but certainly this has added an uncertainty and a potential increased cost for the bridge, if it's delayed as we go through an exercise to look at the cost to one sector of our economy. For example, if the interest rates were to rise in the next year while we are doing the review, that's going to be an added cost onto the bridge and, therefore, could potentially increase the cost to not only the mining sector but to all industries who are using the bridge for heavy traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Joe Handley on Question 15-15(2): Environmental Assessment Of The Deh Cho Bridge Project
In the Legislative Assembly on January 21st, 2004. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 15-15(2): Environmental Assessment Of The Deh Cho Bridge Project
Question 15-15(2): Environmental Assessment Of The Deh Cho Bridge Project
Item 6: Oral Questions
January 20th, 2004
Page 30
See context to find out what was said next.