Like I mentioned earlier in answering other questions, in March it became apparent that the project would not be able to be completed in November. We had to go back. We had to look at a way to ensure that the project would be complete in November. We didn’t really want to look at another year’s delay in the project which, undoubtedly, would cost us more money. There were a number of outstanding claims associated with the project. This wraps it all up. It gives budget surety. It gives schedule surety so that we can see the completion of the Deh Cho Bridge. We’re looking forward to the day when traffic can begin to move across that bridge sometime in November. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve heard the Minister say probably three or four times now this afternoon that we have schedule certainty and budget certainty. I’m having a very hard time believing those words. We’ve had budget certainty for probably the last three years and we’ve gone from $165 million to $202 million.

My last question to the Minister, we talked previously in the government, and it might be a previous Minister, but I will ask this Minister if he will commit to a full-cost accounting of the project once it is completed. All the in-kind man hours that have been donated, will he share that full-cost accounting with the Members and with the public? Thank you.

While I say we need to look forward, and I do believe wholeheartedly, we have to see this project through to completion, and we’re going to do that, once the project is complete, and I’ve made this commitment to the House in a previous sitting, is that we will go back, we’ll take an entire look at the project from its inception, so that we can learn some valuable lessons in other future large infrastructure projects around this territory. There has to be lessons learned. I believe when we go back and take a look at the process, how things unfolded and how they came together, I think that’s what Members are looking for, that’s what the public is looking for, and I’ve already made a commitment to do that. But right now our focus should be on completing that project so we can move on and get that work done. Thank you.

Thank you, The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Minister of Transportation, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There remains one outstanding claim with ATCON that the department continues to pursue and look for a negotiated settlement to that claim.

Mr. Weledeh appreciates that response. So we have at least one other source of surprise cost coming forward in the future. Are there any other further risks that have not been mentioned today that the Minister would care to outline for us at this time?

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member’s question. No, there wouldn’t be. We still do have the sum. It was about $13 million from the Government of New Brunswick. We have remaining in that account about $7 million. That is to address deficiencies or issues after the bridge is complete. We will be able to look at some of that work. It is minor work. That funding is in place to allow that to happen. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, how long after the bridge is completed will toll collection begin? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the rate we are going, it will start on day one. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure that was the right phrasing the Minister used there, the rate we are going. I probably wouldn’t refer to that, but I appreciate the comment.

People of the Northwest Territories, as is clear from the comments of my colleagues today, have foregone a lot of infrastructure options, a lot of provision of important services. These costs will continue to accrue as we pay back the hundreds of millions of dollars in interest and so on. Will the Minister commit to avoiding any such ventures in the future where costs are for a project predicted to continue to rise way beyond the original estimates where the risks are extreme and uncertain and where there is marginal economic benefits being

enjoyed by the people of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Member’s question. I think there is a lot to learn. I commented on Ms. Bisaro’s questions about a complete look back at the project once it’s complete. We need to ensure the upfront work is done so that we know what we are getting ourselves into. That’s what we intend to do on future projects, is do that upfront work so that we can ascertain costs and risks before we venture in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 8, oral questions, on the orders of the day. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent denied

Item 9, written questions. Item 10, returns to written questions. Item 11, replies to opening address. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Public Works and Services Energy Conservation Projects Annual Report 2011.” Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Mr. Blake.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, has had first reading.

---Carried

Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills

and other matters: Tabled Document 2-17(3), Commissioner’s Opening Address: Creating the Conditions for Success; Tabled Document 3-17(3), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2012-2013; Tabled Document 17-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 7, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 18-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011; Tabled Document 19-17(3), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2012-2013; Bill 1, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act; Committee Report 1-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories; Committee Report 2-17(3), Standing Committee on Government Operations Report on the Review of the 2010-2011 Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission Annual Report. By the authority given to me as Speaker pursuant to Motion 2-17(3), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House, with Ms. Bisaro in the chair.

I call Committee of the Whole to order. We have a number of documents to consider here. We have Tabled Document 2-17(3), Tabled Document 3-17(3), Tabled Document 17-17(3), Tabled Document 18-17(3), Tabled Document 19-17(3), Bill 1, Committee Report 1-17(3) and Committee Report 2-17(3). What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Madam Chair. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 3-17(3), NWT Main Estimates 2012-13, to continue deliberation of Health and Social Services, then on to Executive, Aboriginal Affairs, Finance and the Legislative Assembly.