Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, on educational development, looking at policies and trying to get money in place, one of the biggest knocks against the Department of Education through the years has been the planning of the department. Later on, when we get to the detail of educational development, you will see we are continuing to renovate and put on additions to schools. To me, that is poor planning. We build a school today, in two years it is too small. Can we not project, in this year 1997, ahead and say if we build a school, 5,000 square feet, that in two years we are going to need 7,200 square feet, so we should have an allowance made for that. What happens eventually, we keep bringing portables and we add additions to everything. In some cases, the school is too small after it has been built. I wonder if the department has looked at their planning, under educational development. Have they conferred with the communities? Do they follow the demographics and the population increases so when they build schools, we do not continue to be in the same process of having to add onto them two years later? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Debates of Feb. 24th, 1997
Topics
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 845
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 845
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The honourable Minister, Mr. Dent.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 845
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, perhaps the Member could point out to me where there is a renovation or addition going on two years after the fact. I would be interested to see that. I believe our planning process is much further along than that. We work with communities, we work with divisional education councils, we do track population statistics, and we have been able to demonstrate to the standing committee that the criteria we use for planning is very fiscally sound. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 845
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Educational development. Mr. Picco.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 845
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, no, I cannot point out, based on the '97/98 capital plan. I would have to go back, as the Minister knows, through two or three years to see the additions. I can relate a story of when I lived in Hall Beach. They were building there in 1987/88 and I see now that you are doing an addition to the school there. What happened in 1987/88, Mr. Patterson was the Minister of Education and I saw him at the airport in Iqaluit. I said to Dennis, "Look, Dennis, you are building a school, I think it is a six classroom school. That is what we have right now. You need to replace it." He wrote a letter to Mr. Handley and they upgraded the school and added the extra two classrooms. It came into play in 1988/89. I see that we are going to do a $2.5
million addition to that school, which is needed in the community because the population is growing.
Tomorrow after I have had a chance tonight, I will be working until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. in the office, I will find some other things. My question is on education, priority and planning. What is the criteria the department uses? When Mr. Dent and these departmental officials sit down to review the construction and additions to schools, what is the formula they are using to figure out what the population or the student enrolment will be and project a couple of years forward, so we do not get into a situation of revamping or adding on to the schools? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 846
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. Mr. Minister.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 846
Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it does not surprise me the community of Hall Beach needs an addition or renovation ten years later, given the growth of population in Hall Beach. The Member said doing something after two years after the fact. I am not sure ten years relates. We have provided great detail on how our capital plan is developed and what the capital standards and criteria are to the standing committee. We would be happy to provide the Member that same information. Mr. Chair, I am not sure whether you want me to read into the record seven pages of information on how we develop our capital plan along with another two pages on how we do enrolment projections. I think the Member will be satisfied we do the work in significant detail, sufficient to ensure we are spending money as it is needed, where it is needed and in line with fiscal reality no sooner than is needed. The basic things we use to rank projects are number one; a project is ranked as a first priority if it has to do with life, health and safety. Number two is for space shortfalls. Number three is for technical deficiencies in the school. Number four would be for upgrades, which would include insulation or new siding to help us cut down on heating bills. Technical would be those which are more of a cosmetic or functional basis. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 846
The Chair John Ningark
Thank you. The time being 6:00, I will recognize the clock and report progress. I would like to thank the Minister and the witnesses for appearing before the committee. Thank you very much and have a good evening. Thank you.
Committee Motion 24-13(4): Recommendation For Withdrawal Of Layoff Notices To Interpreters/translators
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 846
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The House will come back to order. Item 20, report of the committee of the whole. Mr. Ningark.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 846
John Ningark Natilikmiot
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your committee has been considering Bill 8, Appropriation Act 1997/98, and Committee Report 06-13(4) Standing Committee on Social Programs and would like to report progress with four motions being adopted. Mr. Speaker, I move the report of the committee of the whole be concurred with. Thank you.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 846
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Seconded by Mr. Evaloarjuk. The motion is in order. To the motion. Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? Motion is carried. Item 21, third reading of Bills. Mr. Antoine.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 846
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to return to Item No. 7, returns to written questions. Thank you.
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Item 20: Report Of Committee Of The Whole
Page 846
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
The Member for Nahendeh is seeking unanimous consent to return to Item 8, returns to written questions. Do I have any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Antoine, you have unanimous consent.
Return To Question 10-13(4): Funding For Self-government Negotiations
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
February 24th, 1997
Page 846
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on February 3rd, David Krutko asked a question on funding for self-government negotiations. The ministry does not provide funding to aboriginal groups for self-government negotiations. The funding for aboriginal groups in participation for self-government negotiations is a federal government responsibility. The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs' Self Government Division received a budget of $794,000 for 1996/97 fiscal year. Other departments of government provide support using existing resource allocations and do not receive specific allocations for self-government negotiations. The proposed reduction to the 1997/98 budget for the Self Government Division of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs is $192,000. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Return To Question 10-13(4): Funding For Self-government Negotiations
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Item 8: Returns To Written Questions
Page 846
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Returns to written questions. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 846
Clerk Of The House Mr. David Hamilton
Meeting of the Western Caucus immediately after adjournment. Meetings tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. of the Caucus, at 10:30 of the Ordinary Members' Caucus, at 11:15 of the Standing Committee on Government Operations, at 12:00 noon of the Western Coalition and at 12:00 noon also the Nunavut Caucus.
Orders of the day for February 25, 1997:
1. Prayer
2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Returns to Oral Questions
5. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
6. Oral Questions
7. Written Questions
8. Returns to Written Questions
9. Replies to Opening Address
10. Petitions
11. Reports of Standing and Special Committees 12. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
13. Tabling of Documents
14. Notices of Motion
15. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills
16. Motions
17. First Reading of Bills
- Bill 11, Loan Authorization Act, 1997-98
18. Second Reading of Bills
19. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
- Bill 2, Justice Administration Statutes, Amending Act
- Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 1997/98
- Bill 9, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 1996/97
- Bill 10, Supplementary Appropriation Act No. 3, 1996/97
- Committee Report 2-13(4), Standing Committee on Government Operations, Report on the 1997/98 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 3-13(4), Standing Committee on Infrastructure, Report on the 1997/98 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 4-13(4), Standing Committee on Resource Management and Development, Report on the 1997/98 Main Estimates
- Committee Report 6-13(4), Standing Committee on Social Programs, Report on the 1997/98 Main Estimates
20. Report of Committee of the Whole
21. Third Reading of Bills
22. Orders of the Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Item 22: Orders Of The Day
Page 847
The Speaker Samuel Gargan
Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned to Tuesday February 25, 1997, at 1:30 p.m.
--ADJOURNMENT