Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday, during the review of the Education budget with the Minister of Education, Mr. Dent indicated that Yellowknife has a utilization rate in all Yellowknife schools of 80 per cent. This figure takes into account the old St. Patrick High School, which this previous government saw fit to replace and not renovate. I suggested to the Minister that the actual utilization rate in Yellowknife was over 92 per cent. I did not feel that using space of portables and the old high school could be factored into this rate.
Mr. Dent indicated that: "The Member appears to be absolutely right. If you take out the old St. Patrick High School, the level of utilization would approach 92 per cent. That still leaves 322 seats available, which is a fair number of seats for an influx.' I said we can deal with an influx if that is what happens.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister indicated 322 seats available within the city's 10 schools would be sufficient to address the needs. I would like to challenge this figure, as I feel it may be misleading. If we were to break down the number of seats overall and distribute them into the 10 schools, this would mean that each school in Yellowknife would have approximately 30 vacant seats. Mr. Speaker, this is not the case in many schools.
Currently, our two high schools have very high utilization rates, which are well above the 85 per cent utilization rate set by the department. We can incorrectly think that the actual number of seats available at the specific grade levels will accommodate the needs for further growth. Currently, the utilization rate of Sir John Franklin High School is 99.29 per cent and the rate at St. Patrick High School is 107 per cent; both well beyond the acceptable level of 85 per cent set by the Department of Education. Further indicators reflect much higher rates for the next year.
Later today, I will be asking the Minister further questions on this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.