This is page numbers 261 - 296 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. My condolences go to Mr. Whitford and his family for their loss.

Mr. Speaker, I am standing in support of my colleagues who will be introducing a motion for the creation of a Family Violence Act. Mr. Speaker, my colleague Mr. Braden spoke eloquently, and gave us some numbers that are disturbing. But he made one point that I think we should grasp. He is saying that this act would be one tool for our resource people to deal with family violence.

The numbers indicate to me, Mr. Speaker, that this is just not a problem that is sourced by one area. It's our low education rate, our high unemployment rates in the communities, our massive shortage of housing, isolation, FAS/FAE. All of those are contributing to family violence. Our numbers speak to that. I encourage the government to introduce legislation and go through the proper number of readings, so the next Assembly can implement the act. I also encourage the government to recognize that this is not a one-source problem. This is a territorial problem that is all inclusive. As I said, Mr. Speaker, it's isolation, the high cost of living, the shortage of housing, low rate of education, FAS/FAE. Those are all contributing factors. As we develop the legislation, as a government, I encourage them not to focus in on that one bill, but look at it holistically. I commend my colleagues in pushing this to the department and I will be supporting their motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Allen.

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to congratulate one constituent from the Inuvik Twin Lakes riding who is competing in the sport of badminton at the Canada Winter Games. Mr. Speaker, this young person is James Elias, the youngest son of Albert and Shirley Elias who are previously from Holman. From what I have been told, James only started playing badminton 4 years ago at the Sir Alexander Mackenzie School evening sports program. This is quite an accomplishment for one individual which now takes him to a major event in New Brunswick.

Mr. Speaker, I was also told that young James was to have participated in the annual IRC hockey tournament scheduled this coming weekend, but he elected to attend the Canada Winter Games instead. I believe this is a wise choice as he will gain tremendous exposure competing at the national level.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great sense of pride when a young student can examine both sport and academic studies. James is known to be a hard-working student and also a dedicated student while attending Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik.

I want to extend my congratulations to this fine young individual and encourage him, as well as other young athletes like him, to pursue excellence in both sport and Canadian academic studies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's just recently come to my attention that we have our first medal in the Canada Winter Games and it goes to a Yellowknifer, Mike Argue, who won a silver medal...

---Applause

...I understand, and he came second out of 50 participants with a silver medal in the 10 kilometre classic cross country skiing race. That's just tremendous to see and hopefully that is just the tip of the iceberg. I hope all my colleagues will join me in congratulating Mike. Thanks.

---Applause

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 265

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

At this time, I would like to recognize Warren and Ian Whitford, sons of Elaine and Tony Whitford.

---Applause

Welcome to the House. I would also like to recognize a former Member of this House from 1976 to 1979, Mr. Richard Whitford, who is also here with his wife Betty. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Culture and Employment and it's about capital standards and criteria for facility planning, specifically when it relates to new schools. There's been a lot of discussion in the community about the need for a new high school facility. I think the most recent enrollment statistics indicate that St. Patrick's High is at 132 percent utilization and Sir John Franklin is as well very high, also close to 90 percent, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering what utilization numbers have to come in before the department starts to plan for a new capital facility. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the decisions with respect to additional school facilities to be built are based upon the enrolments overall in a community. In Yellowknife, while some of the schools may be at high capacity, other schools may be at much lower capacity and the capacity overall in schools in Yellowknife today is at approximately 80 percent, Mr. Speaker. So that would indicate that there is capacity in other schools to absorb some of the overload in certain other schools. Thank you.

Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just so I am clear then, is the Minister suggesting that what we should do when we have 132 percent utilization at a high school is to move some of those high school students into a primary school? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd have to double check the capacity and enrolment of all schools that the Member has brought up. There are issues, for instance, that the William MacDonald School is not at full capacity. Can some of that be utilized for capacity that is over in other schools, for example? Thank you.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 265

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you. I'd like to get the specific percentage of utilization that the department requires in the community then. Is it 80 percent, 85 percent and do we take a proactive approach, let's say for instance, look at the number of children in Grade 6 or Grade 8 currently to try to determine what the high school need will be? Can the Minister give me the percent? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Normally planning discussions start to take place at 80 percent. Mr. Speaker, I just was looking for some of my capacity figures and utilization figures and perhaps, you know, Mr. Bell and I could meet on this because my figures are a little different than perhaps Mr. Bell's. My figures indicate Sir John Franklin High School at 89 percent and the St. Patrick High School at 100 percent, Mr. Speaker, but it indicates to me that there is some capacity in between other schools. As I said, the William MacDonald School is at 59 percent. We need to take that into consideration when we do planning for other schools and overall, yes the question is, at 80 percent, do we start looking at possibilities for additional schools and the answer to that is yes, we do. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Your final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We do have slightly different information, however, the information that I have in front of me here was supplied on request from the Minister's department to me and it has St. Pat's at 132 percent and Sir John at 89 percent. At any event, it looks like we are at least over the 80 percent mark as a community so I am hoping this will trigger the necessary planning for this upcoming budget cycle. Is that the case? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Well, Mr. Speaker, yes, I did address this issue in terms of notifying the department that we should proceed with the capital needs assessment process and that was passed on to the appropriate officials in FMBS and so forth. So it is not as though we are not aware of the need, Mr. Speaker, nor are we ignoring the fact that it needs to be put in the capital needs assessment. It all comes down to a question of availability of funding at this point, and at what point in time do we need an additional school in Yellowknife. Is that two

years from now or is that five years from now? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Further Return To Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Question 76-14(6): Criteria For New School Construction
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 266

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

Oral questions. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my question is for the Minister of Transportation. This year, for the first time, a local company built a winter road between Rae and Edzo. This road assists in intercommunity travel and serves as an access road to the church and commercial core of Rae for people from Gameti and Wha Ti. The hamlet has not had the resources to build an ice road for the past two years, so they have had to use internal resources. I would like to ask the Minister, if Dettah can get an ice road, why can't Rae get an ice road between Rae and Edzo? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Deputy Speaker

The Deputy Speaker David Krutko

The Minister for Transportation, Mr. Handley.