Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we consider the difficulties encountered by the Deh Cho Bridge Project and the resulting financial implications for this government, my mind cannot help but jump to another large project that this government is involved in. Of course, I speak of the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. I, too, will weigh in on this subject today.

We MLAs have had quite a few briefings and updates on the Taltson project over the last two years that I’ve been here. As I cleaned up my office last week I found a few of those update documents. Interesting reading, they were. As mentioned by Mr. Abernethy yesterday, a prominent component of

the project, according to the information we’ve been given, is to examine an interconnected electricity grid. Yesterday the Premier advised the House that an electricity grid is a long-term objective in the government’s Energy Strategy. Fair enough; achieving that objective will certainly take time.

Since 2002 this government has pumped some $13 million into the Taltson project and there’s little sign of any let-up on our giveaways that I can see. What are we getting for the money that we’ve spent? If, as we continually hear, this project is a business enterprise, will the GNWT be paid back for the millions we’ve invested? If we will not, what control do we have over these financial investments? How is that money spent?

A one-third interest in Deze Energy Corporation does not give us much control, from what I can see. The Taltson project is looking more and more like the bridge scenario and I find that very scary. Are we heading down the same path with the Taltson Expansion Project that we followed for the Deh Cho Bridge Project? Will the GNWT once again be left holding the bag of debt for a megaproject, our finance perched precariously on a ledge just waiting for a strong breeze to blow us off into disaster?

In February of last year during a presentation from the Premier on the Taltson Expansion Project one of the bullets stated, “Project needs GNWT backstop for construction.” That sounds way too similar to the parameters of our recently collapsed P3 bridge project. Are we guaranteeing the Taltson project’s debt? What financial safeguards exist for this government in regard to the project and how much are we on the hook for? I will have these and other questions for the Premier at the appropriate time.