Services to the public, $93,000.

Total department, $1.784 million.

Page 27, Education, Culture and Employment, capital investment expenditures, not previously authorized, education and culture, $12.336 million.

Advanced education and careers, $4.867 million.

Total department, $17.203 million.

Page 27, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the item for $3.520 million for the Deh Cho Hall in Fort Simpson, I had some questions for the Minister on that one. How old is that building and how much extra life does he anticipate we will get out of it by spending $3.520 million? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The building was originally constructed as a student residence in 1957. The amount we are requesting is the amount identified of $3.520 million would deal with code compliance for the building to keep it open for two to four years.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Chairman, $3.5 million to extend the life of a 50-year-old building by two to four

years? This makes the $320,000 in Inuvik to talk about design of office space pale in comparison. The folks that are in that building, we've visited that building, we've gone there for retreats and meetings, we have even had meetings in that building. Yes, certainly it's an old building but it seems to be one that is held in some endearment in that community. I can understand the code. I can understand the reports of fire marshals and that kind of thing, but they have been kind of nursing that building along and using it and getting some value out of it. Has the department considered other options other than this very extravagant amount of money for such a short extension of life? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This facility has been looked at for a number of years as to what options could be undertaken to either keep the facility, renovate the facility or replace the facility complete. In our estimates in 2004 for the renovation, it was identified as $12 million. For replacement of the new facility, it was an estimate in 2004, for the same size, was approximately $19 million. The fact is there has been discussion back and forth between Education, Culture and Employment, the community, and options were sought from Public Works. The work that was done and what options may be went back and forth for some time. Finally, the fire marshal's office became involved and looked at the deficiencies in that facility. The work that was done with the fire marshal was to get his okay to do the minimal amount of code upgrades, to get the blessing of the fire marshal's office to allow us to use that facility until a replacement facility could be constructed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

As I understand it then, you are going to put $3.5 million worth of renovations and upgrades into this building and in two to four years you are going to tear it down and replace it anyway. This has got to be the ultimate case of throwing good money after bad here and I do respect the fire marshal and the code, but the fact of the matter is that usually upgrades to code and bringing things up to standard don't come into play until there is a major renovation in the building. Once you start that process and start that ball rolling, then you have to comply with the newest codes. There is just a whole lot of things about this. How many square feet is the building and how much of it is used? If the building is replaced, tell me what the square footage would be of a new building. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the new facility would have to incorporate the Dehcho Education Council, Education, Culture and Employment's regional office, Aurora College program delivery administration, the Department of Justice and the community wellness worker. The other occupant of the building would be the community library, the Multimedia Society, cultural centre, day care and Fort Simpson Historical Society. They would not be housed in a new facility. I don't have the exact square footage. It would not be the same size, as a lot of the building right now is unoccupied because it was a student residence. There was a fire years back and that portion has not been occupied since. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. So the new building's projected cost in 2004 was $19 million and would be considerably smaller and require less square footage for the proposed occupants than what is there right now. Have you talked to the fire marshal's office to discuss this to find out if there is anything of a lesser extent that could, on a temporary basis, satisfy the safety requirements? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.