SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - MLAs are demanding an audit be conducted on the Deh Cho bridge project as criticism for the Department of Transportation's handling of the project continues.

Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro said a financial and operational audit was necessary to know "what decisions were made, when, and by whom; what actions were taken, when, and by whom.

"I've never felt comfortable with the process used to establish this project. It certainly was not open and transparent," she said.

Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley said he was frustrated MLAs had to continually question cabinet in order to get answers and only heard about the status of the bridge when the government required more money.

He said the mismanagement of the bridge was eroding his confidence in cabinet's ability to function.

"It has bungled this bridge project at every step," he said to the legislative assembly. "Public confidence in this government simply does not exist."

With mounting criticism, a no-confidence vote has been insinuated, but so far, nothing has been brought forward.

"This government has been asleep at the switch for the past two and a half years ... they're as culpable as the previously government," Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay told Yellowknifer. "People have to be held accountable for this project and their involvement in this project. That day hasn't quite come yet."

Last week, Transportation Minister Michael McLeod announced he will be seeking the legislative assembly's approval for an additional $15 million to finance the project. This would bring the total cost of the bridge to $182 million. McLeod said he needs that money before he signs a contract with a new contractor.

The one-kilometer span over the Mackenzie River near Fort Providence is scheduled to be finished in November 2011, assuming a new design and contractor is in place by March 1.

The previous contractor, New-Brunswick-based ATCON Construction was pulled from the project last December because it could no longer complete the bridge for the fixed price of $165 million.

Though the support piers are constructed, the design for the superstructure - the roadway that will form the actual bridge - has yet to be finalized. McLeod previously said he hoped a new design would be less expensive but last week he said part of the $15 million was going toward the new plans.

On Monday, McLeod said he would provide a cost breakdown of how much has been spent and how the supplementary $15 million will be spent.

Ramsay said the remaining work should have been put to tender in order to explore pricing options. He said the economic climate could mean that some companies would be willing to offer more competitive prices in order to secure the contract. He said this could have been done in time for the March 1 deadline.

"This is unprecedented for a government in Canada to go to a sole-sourced contract on a bridge like this. Unprecedented," Ramsay said.

But McLeod said going through the tender process would have added another year to construction, plus money associated with more delays.

"It's pretty obvious why we are negotiating with one company. We have very limited time to make this project work," he said. "A good portion of what the $15 million ask is already interest and cost of delaying the project."

McLeod said because negotiations weren't complete, he couldn't specify which company the department plans to work with but said he was satisfied it could complete the work.

"We have a company that's experienced, we have a company that's familiar with the community and the project, they have identified the ability to do all the different pieces and parts that need to be accomplished," he said.

McLeod said he needed approval for the additional money before finalizing the contract.

"Failing that, we won't be able to conclude this project. We would be in a very difficult situation. But I'm very reluctant to sign off on a contract until we have that discussion," said McLeod.

With a change in project management, McLeod said the GNWT was moving forward with control of the project.

"We are calling the shots," he said.