Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Feb 13/02) - A bridge across the Mackenzie River would save the government money and lower the cost of living in all North Slave communities, says the group hoping to build it.

The Fort Providence Combined Council Alliance -- composed of leaders of Fort Providence's Dene, Metis and hamlet councils -- is aiming to complete the $46.5 million project as soon as 2005.

Alliance consultant Andrew Gamble said that despite a $5 per tonne levy that would be introduced on northbound commercial freight, the bridge would reduce trucking and airfreight costs, lower prices on consumer goods and save the government $800,000 annually on operation of the crossing.

"If those numbers hold up, there is no downside to this," said Frame Lake MLA Charles Dent, one of a number of MLAs who attended the release of the proposal Tuesday at the legislative assembly.

"It's a good deal for everybody who lives on this side of the river," said North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty.

Members of the Fort Providence alliance presented the plan Monday to Joe Handley, minister of both finance and transportation.

"He seems to be very keen on it, he's quite interested," said alliance spokesperson and Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod. McLeod said the group is hoping to strike an agreement in principle with the government "as soon as possible."

When it was discussed at a city council meeting last week, RTL Robinson Enterprises president Marvin Robinson hailed the proposal as long overdue.

The group is proposing the territorial government provide an initial $3 million -- an investment Gamble said would be more than covered by the salvage for the ferry.

A corporate entity owned by the community of Fort Providence will provide another $5 million. The alliance will be seeking a loan for the remaining $38.5 million.

"The community will likely seek some support (from the federal government) in raising equity financing," said Gamble.

The territorial government would pay ongoing costs of $1.7 million per year for the first 35 years. It currently spends about $2.5 million annually on the crossing. After 35 years, ownership of the bridge would revert to the territorial government at no cost.

Lafferty said the federal government should pay for most of the project, considering how much it makes from royalties and corporate taxes from development in the North.

Lafferty added the $70,000 Ottawa has contributed to preliminary studies amounts to "peanuts."