Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this bill asks us to approve spending $165 million on the Deh Cho Bridge. It’s a yes or a no decision so it should be seen as a simple one, but as we heard through our discussions on Tuesday afternoon, it’s anything but simple. There are many, many questions from Regular Members which remain as yet unanswered, not because Ministers don’t want to provide the answers but because they can’t. They don’t have the information to pass on to us. Negotiations aren’t finalized so the status of the Bridge Corp is unknown. Deficiency tests aren’t completed so the quality of the work to date is unknown. Costs for the bridge after completion can’t be clearly identified because the date is not available. Impacts on future budgets can’t be determined because, well, because it’s the future and it’s uncertain.

I am not happy that I am now forced into this decision. There is only one path for me to walk down. There is only one option open to me for consideration. There is no opportunity to slow down the decision and to take the time to conscientiously consider the ramifications of the vote. I’ve harboured doubts and concerns about this project from the time I entered this House, and I am dismayed that those concerns have unfortunately proven to be valid. I feel like I’ve been backed into a corner and have been asked to choose the lesser of two evils. A yes vote means we take on this huge project and all the responsibilities and liabilities that

that entails in both a management and a financial sense. A no vote means the project probably dies and that result will cost us as much as if we carry on the project to complete.

But all that said, I do support construction of the Deh Cho Bridge. It will be a marvellous piece of infrastructure once it’s completed. So I look forward to project updates on a frequent and regular basis. I hope our new management team will bring this project in on time and on budget. I look forward to the results of an audit of the project and the implementations of recommendations from the audit, and I look forward to the establishment of protocols to govern the actions of this and future Assemblies in the months leading up to any territorial election. I will be voting in favour of this bill for two reasons: because we can’t turn back and it’s the right thing to do. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.