Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to tell you a bit of history. Back during the time of our Great Chief Jimmy Bruneau, Edzo was a new community developed by this government. Our chief recognized the need for our people to be educated in the ways of the southern people. With his foresight and determination the government built what is now called the Chief Jimmy Bruneau Regional High School in the community of Edzo.
Over the years, we have had an increasing number of students attend this school, where today we have over 300 students travelling daily from Rae to Edzo a 15-kilometre drive so they can learn and grow. This school has become a very important part of our community. However, our community leaders believe that if the school was located in the main community of Rae instead of in Edzo, our student population would increase even more. Today with all the development in the mining sector and the conclusion of our land claims negotiations, our residents are seeing the need to further their education. They want to have a high school where the people are living. Rae is the place where it should have been built in the beginning. Rae is also going to continue to grow. Currently, the community service board is looking at various possibilities to achieve this goal. As more and more students enrol in all levels of schooling, we are seeing the need to increase the number of busses used to travel this 15 kilometres, as well as, the increased demand to provide more and more lunch time meals for the students.
By bussing the students to Edzo many students miss classes because they missed their bus. It is a one shot deal, if a student misses his bus, he may as well go back home as there are no other busses to take him to school. We realize this will take years to become a reality. However, we feel if we start working on it now, future generations will benefit from this important move. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause