This is page numbers 1063 - 1110 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th 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.

Topics

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We hope that this will complete the project. Any project we do, when you are talking about renovations to a school, we work with Public Works and they will give us the scope of what has to be done. They will then say, if you have the budget, these items would be nice to get done as well. We are at the point now, where we think that this is going to get the school to a point where it is ready to move on for another 20 years of good and useful life.

One of the reasons you don't do everything all at once is you just don't have enough money to do everything all at once. It has been a struggle, as the Member will know, for us to get the money that we need into the capital plan for all of our communities across the North. So it sometimes takes longer to get projects done than what we would like, but we recognize the need. The Members in this House have been very supportive to making sure that we can get projects done as quickly as possible. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Ramsay.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know I mentioned specifically the schools in Yellowknife, but I do agree that any capital money we can find and spend on schools throughout the Northwest Territories is much needed and well received. It is too bad that we didn't have more money to spend in the area of education and upgrading our schools for our children.

I wanted to ask another question about Ecole Allain St-Cyr. The Minister and I had a discussion yesterday regarding the need for physical activity in the school and the increased prevalence of childhood obesity and the fact that kids aren't getting enough exercise. I am under the impression that this addition to Ecole Allain St-Cyr here in Yellowknife is not going to include a gymnasium. This school is still without a gymnasium. I just have to wonder out loud. How could we, as a government, spend these kind of capital dollars and you couple that with what the federal government is throwing into the project, and it is still not going to have a gymnasium. Why can't we come up with some type of game plan to put a gymnasium in this school? I think it is a travesty that a school nowadays is without a gymnasium. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This goes back to the discussion that I was having with the Member for Hay River just previously. We have, with the funding that is in place now between this government and the federal government, enough money to put in place the two classrooms that we have been directed to put in place by the courts. The money is also there to complete the planning and get the first stage ready for the foundation that would incorporate a gymnasium as we are able to expand it. That is the stage that we are at right now with the federal government. We are trying to negotiate funding with Heritage Canada for that section that would include the gym.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Ramsay.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1087

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I wish the Minister and the department well in those negotiations because, again, a school without a gymnasium shouldn't be allowed to happen; not in today's day and age and not when we are talking the magnitude of capital dollars that we do have. I thank the Minister for his response.

Another item on the capital is the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. I see there is a little bit more money being spent on the heritage centre's sub-arctic gallery redevelopment. Last summer, as Members know, the museum here in Yellowknife, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, was shut down completely just in time for tourist season last summer. I just want to get a clarification from the Minister if that facility will be up and running at 100 percent for this coming tourist season. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to report that I took a visitor to Yellowknife through the heritage centre on Sunday and all areas of the building are open. So the renovation project is completed. We now have to work at redeveloping some of the displays, but I expect that by this summer the displays will be ready for viewing. They do have displays in all of the galleries right now, but some of the ramp areas haven't been set up for display yet and the orientation gallery still hasn't been set up. Those are planned to be coming, and visitors are going to be welcomed this summer.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Ramsay.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I just wanted to thank the Minister for the work the department has done on putting this together. In a perfect world, I guess we would have more money and we could spend more money in the schools and getting things to a state where we need them. Certainly, I support the money that is being spent here today. Mahsi.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Next I have Mr. Yakeleya.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment about the schools in the Sahtu. Certainly, as my colleague from Kam Lake has also expressed our appreciation for having the commitment to improve our schools, not only our region but also other communities in their due time. Regarding the Fort Good Hope Chief T'Selehye School in Fort Good Hope in terms of the time frame, I know that there are some issues that need to be resolved before we can have a firm date in terms of how we go about building a new school for Chief T'Selehye School. The Minister is expecting any type of delays that may put this project on a reverse track in terms of what time frame can we expect to break new ground for this new school in Fort Good Hope. Mahsi.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We had hoped that we would be able to get started on this project next year, but because of the need to move the NAV Canada beacon, that is going to tip things back somewhat. We are still planning to start the planning process in this next budget year, but construction will likely be set back a bit. So construction probably won't start until 2008.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

February 20th, 2007

Page 1088

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I certainly appreciate the Minister and his staff to work on this and keep focussed on the need for building this school in Fort Good Hope as is due. As the Minister is aware, it is desperately needed as any other community will make an argument for a need for their community to get a new school also. However, if the Minister could reassure the people of Fort Good Hope to know that this issue here is being looked at very carefully with his other colleague, the Minister of Transportation, in terms of how do we get this issue in terms of NAV Canada and that result so that concrete planning and construction can happen in a time frame that would see a new school in Fort Good Hope being completed as soon as possible. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am quite confident that we will be able to move forward on the NAV Canada issue and get that space freed up. It is a good space for building a school. We are looking forward to replacing the school in Fort Good Hope.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Yes, I have one more question to the Minister, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the school in Tulita is taking shape and people are certainly very happy as the Cabinet has put funding into...(inaudible)...school in Tulita. It is taking ground in terms of we are seeing the results of the past work by this government in terms of putting our school there. Is this school here on time and on target in terms of opening up for its students that they are going to enter into this new Chief Albert Wright School in Tulita? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Charles Dent

Charles Dent Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this point, as far as I am aware, everything is on target and on budget.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

The Chair

The Chair Calvin Pokiak

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mr. Yakeleya.

Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Page 1088

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Chair. That is all I have for the Minister. Thank you.