Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS the Deh Cho Bridge project is no longer expected to be self-financing and will require ongoing investment by the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has not committed to infrastructure funding for the Deh Cho Bridge project;

AND WHEREAS the potential impacts of the Deh Cho Bridge on the cost of living for Yellowknife, the Tlicho communities and the Akaitcho communities are unclear;

AND WHEREAS the exact cost of financing the Deh Cho Bridge to the Government of the Northwest Territories has not been provided to Regular Members;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government not enter into a binding agreement committing it to the Deh Cho Bridge project until it has provided Regular Members with:

• • an up-to-date analysis of the expected cost of living impacts of the bridge on Yellowknife, the Tlicho communities and the Akaitcho communities;
• • the estimated social impacts and economic benefits for the community of Fort Providence; and
• • the exact total cost of the Deh Cho Bridge to the Government of the Northwest Territories;

and given Regular Members an opportunity to comment on whether the bridge should proceed based on this information.

Mahsi.