Mr. Speaker... [English translation not provided.]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This week Members have been called back to consider legislation to establish the necessary authority that will provide for the GNWT to administer the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge. I spoke in the House in February to point out that Nahendeh people don’t want to see any more over-expenditures on this project. As taxpayers, they do not want to be left to pay for the cost overruns. I trust that, as Minister Michael McLeod advised in response to my questions in February, over-expenditures will eventually be offset by the revenues collected by toll fees.

Mr. Speaker, the vision we have for the Deh Cho Bridge is partly a symbolic one. The bridge is a link to the rest of Canada, and if we build a bridge across the Mackenzie, my vision is an improved highway to the rest of the Deh Cho and the Nahendeh will come.

I do support the government’s recent decision to take over the project and see it to completion. I have been asked to be vigilant over our management of the Deh Cho Bridge. My residents do want to see its completion, but do not want to

see any more delays and increased costs paid by our tax dollars.

Minister McLeod earlier advised that the government was looking at providing signage on the highway and a website to keep the public informed of the progress on the bridge construction. I believe that this will be of interest to NWT residents and I look forward to seeing Northerners being informed on this major project. It is important that the remainder of the project goes smoothly in order to keep costs of both construction and borrowing in line. Residents have never been asked to carry the cost of this bridge, and they are not prepared to do so, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.