Mr. Speaker, our current driver's licence was developed 15 years ago. We are reviewing it now with our partners. Currently it is still acceptable as a driver's licence, and that's what it was intended for. We do not have timelines at this point. We are reviewing it, and we also are doing a needs analysis of whether we should be changing it and that will come in due course. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Can the Minister give us some examples of what kinds of new standards and requirements are likely to come forward as recommendations to be adopted for a new standard of driver's licence? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have that at this current moment. We have hired a contractor to provide a needs analysis to give us what we need in terms of a new driver's licence and what it should entail. We are looking at a digital type of driver's licence. However, our current driver's licence is still acceptable in Canada and if there is any outside requirement for this document to be used as identification, then we have problems. However, then maybe we should be looking at a passport instead of trying to use our driver's licence. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Speaker, even as I look down at my own driver's licence right in front of me, I can see imperfections that need addressing immediately. I see a photo that covers the word "driver" so it reads "river's licence." I see shades, contrasts and background symbols that make it very difficult to read my home address. Mr. Speaker, this picture ID doesn't even have the word Canada on it. So for NWT residents travelling outside of Canada, they may be accused of having a fake ID. So maybe the Department of Transportation should be issuing maps because they are trying to explain where the Northwest Territories is to some Americans who don't even know where Canada is.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't what we can do about his current photo.

---Laughter

However, I have indicated that we are reviewing it and it is something that is a concern. We take it seriously and we have a contractor who is looking at this whole issue and will report back to the House as soon as we have those documents. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister responsible for the Deh Cho Bridge project and that is Premier Handley. I would like to know what cost the GNWT has incurred to date for the Deh Cho Bridge project and why we haven't seen a final design on the bridge project. Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, the GNWT has had minimal costs, in the neighbourhood of $200,000 or $300,000, that we have dedicated ourselves to the bridge project. We have, in addition to that, approved a loan guarantee for the Deh Cho Bridge project of up to $2.5 million over the last government and this current government.

Mr. Speaker, the Member asked two questions and I answered the first one. I will answer the second one, as well. The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation have, to my knowledge, basically finished the design for the bridge and we are waiting for cost estimates from them and expect to have those estimates, based on the design that they have, within two to three weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to know if the Premier is aware of the fact that the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation recently had their submission to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board returned due to a lack of information. Does this cause him, as Minister responsible, any concern? Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Mr. Speaker, it's not unusual when proponents make submissions for the environmental review process to have it deemed to be incomplete. The information that was provided by the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, to my knowledge, was incomplete. The environmental review board asked for more information that is being provided. The bridge corporation tells me that the environmental review process is still scheduled to be completed by September. So at this point, I don't have any concerns that this is going to cause a delay. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is the Premier aware that the proposed site of the bridge at the current ferry crossing is, in fact, at the foot of the Fort Providence Rapids where the current in the river is at its fastest? Does the Premier know to date there has been no geotechnical work or ice floe studies? What will this do to the cost of the project and does this cause the Premier any concern? Thank you.

Premier Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to my knowledge there has been a fair bit of geotechnical work on ice conditions as well as river floe done over the years. Looking at this site for a bridge is not something that's new to this government or even the last government. In fact, there was a lot of work done in either the 12th or 13th government where a firm was contracted to do some of these studies. We do know that the water is swift at that site and the assessment that that is still the least expensive place for the location of the bridge. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.