Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’m pleased to introduce the proposed amendments in this bill, which will help facilitate the daily administration and operation of the bridge near Fort Providence, the Deh Cho Bridge, and improve upon the enforcement of the Deh Cho Bridge Act and the regulations.
After two years of operating the bridge, the department has identified areas to improve and expand upon inspection and investigation authorities held by our highway transport officers. These proposed amendments will give our HTOs the authority to adequately enforce the act, regulations and bridge tolling system. This bill will also clarify circumstances under which drivers and owners of motor vehicles are liable for non-payment of bridge toll fees. It will allow the admissibility of evidence for official documents for the toll evasion prosecution, such as photographs captured by cameras mounted on the bridge gantry. This will assist our HTOs to purse toll evasion prosecutions and will reduce court time and costs.
Rather than tabling a special report regarding the collection of bridge tolls, annual reporting requirements are proposed to be included in the department’s main estimates. This will eliminate the duplication of effort and make the department’s reporting requirements more efficient.
This amendment also reflects that a concession agreement for the Deh Cho Bridge is no longer in place. To improve consistency among the department’s acts and regulations, the department is proposing to remove the 90-day consultation process for any significant changes to the Deh Cho Bridge regulations. As a concession agreement is no longer in place, the regulation and bridge tolls will be administered like any other regulation or fees administered by the department.
Finally, many changes will be made to the Deh Cho Bridge Act to promote consistency with the Motor Vehicles Act. Together the amendments advance our continuing goal towards a more efficient and effective government. I look forward to discussing the bill with you in detail today. Thank you.