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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and its partners want the federal government to come up with the additional $1.6-million in equity it committed to the Dehcho bridge project.

In 2002-2003, the Liberal government committed $3-million in equity to the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nations and the Fort Providence Metis Council but only provided $1.4-million.

Andrew Gamble, project manager for the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, said delays early on in the project due to the environmental assessment caused the agreement to expire before all the funds had been transferred.

"By the time the conditions of the equity funding had been met the agreement had expired. The feds then provided only $1.4-million based on expenditures made before the contribution agreement had expired and they weren't willing to extend it," he said.

Gamble said the community and partners in the bridge project felt the delay was caused when the federal government extended the environmental review and therefore Ottawa should have provided the remaining funding.

"The whole project was built on the community, the band and Metis coming up with (the equity) and they had that $3-million commitment and they were disappointed that the feds only made good on less than half of that," he said.

A total of $5-million in equity was originally required to go ahead with the project and the Deh Gah Got'ie Band and Metis came up with the $2-million they agreed on through private investment. After Ottawa fell short on its promise the other partners were forced to raise an additional $600,000 in equity to reach $4-million, the revised amount said to be sufficient to go ahead with the project.

The investment gives private investors 65 per cent control over the equity agreement. Under the original agreement the band and the Metis would have held 60 per cent of the equity.

Once the bridge is open, revenues will come from commercial vehicle tolls and government payment. The revenues will be used for debt repayment over 35 years and for maintenance. After the 35 years the ownership will revert to the GNWT and Gamble said the money saved not operating a ferry at the Fort Providence crossing should cover any future maintenance costs.

Gamble said the lower percentage of the overall share in the equity would make the return much less for the community and its partners.

"Like any investment there is a return," he said. "With them that have $2-million instead of $3-million, the return will be less."

A resolution passed by the Dene First Nations last month said they wanted the federal equity money paid to the original total of $3-million.

Calls to Deh Gah Got'ie First Nations and Fort Providence Metis Council were not returned by press time.