Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'd love to have the authority to make that kind of promise. Unfortunately I can't make the promise. It is our intention to proceed with the project and we are hopeful that it will come in close enough to the numbers that we won't have a problem meeting the budget. But if it comes in at three or four times the budget we would have to go to the Financial Management Board and seek extra funds. And it is difficult to say because at this point the architect's been hired, but there hasn't been a lot of work done on the drawings. So to see the project be completed for the

$250,000, we're hopeful at this point and we'll continue to keep the project in the plan. We agree that the work needs to be done and we'll do whatever we can to make sure that it gets completed this year or in the coming year.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Another capital question related to Hay River then, is the issue of the funding for the expansion of more classroom space and a gymnasium for the Ecole Boreale. I recently had an opportunity to meet with representatives of that school facility and I would like to know what the process is, then, to get something moving in terms of capital for that particular project as well in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I understand that the commission has requested a meeting with me in the next couple of weeks. I expect that is one of the issues that they are interested in following up on. At this point, the department has been focussed on working to complete the expansion that is needed at Ecole Allain St-Cyr. Given the need for us to partner with Heritage Canada, we have tried to focus on one project at a time. We think that if we have the singular focus, it makes it easier to say to Heritage Canada, here is the priority, let's get this one done. As soon as we have the commitment, we can move on to the next priority. We are concerned that if we go to them and say we have two priorities, they are liable to start playing one off against the other saying, well, we can't make a decision. We haven't got enough money to do both; so unless you can tell us which is the priority, we can't move forward. We have seen that kind of negotiation take place in the past. So we are anxious to avoid opening that door and would hope that we can keep the pressure on Heritage Canada to move on Ecole Allain St-Cyr and conclude the expansion that is needed there, and then we will immediately be after Heritage Canada to expand Ecole Boreale.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Just for clarification, Mr. Chair, and I understand what the Minister is saying about Heritage Canada and not to muddy the waters with more than one proposal. Two proposals going concurrently may result in delays. They may use it as an excuse to delay a response to anything. However, at first the Minister said that once they have a commitment to proceed with Allain St-Cyr, they would then get the proposal on the table for Ecole Boreale. In the second reference, he said that when the work is completed on Allain St-Cyr. For the clarity of folks in Hay River, I just want to know. Can you begin to work with Heritage Canada on the funding for Ecole Boreale once you just have the financial commitment in hand, in writing, for Allain St-Cyr? I just want that clarified. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Does the Minister anticipate when the negotiations with Heritage Canada may be concluded for the Yellowknife project? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. At this point, I can't predict that. No.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. One other matter, then, is something that is not in this capital budget but should be. That is the phone system at the Harry Camsell School in Hay River. I think the Minister is probably aware of the situation, but there are 19 classrooms there, or teaching areas, and two telephone lines. It is extremely important to the safety of the teaching staff and the students, and extremely important to the parents that they be able to communicate with the school and the school be able to communicate outside. Now, different things have occurred which have brought about a school policy whereby if a student does not come to school in the morning, the school does not automatically assume that the parents are aware of the child's absence. So there is a need to tie up the phone lines initially early in the day to confirm that absent students' parents are aware of the fact that they are not at school, make sure they didn't get lost on the way to school. There is also a need for students to communicate occasionally with their parents from the school during the day. There is a need for emergency contact should an incident occur. There are just a lot of good reasons why two phone lines in and out of a modern school with this many different areas is required. It is a safety issue, a security issue and a communication issue. In this day and age, I cannot think of a reason why you would have a phone system with only two lines in and out of a facility of this size.

Right now, the teachers in the classrooms are having to bring their own cell phones just so that they are able to communicate outside of the school. It is only about a year since this has been brought to the attention of the DEA and there was a cost estimate at that time of around $20,000. I just don't know why a situation like this, for the amount of $20,000, is being allowed to continue. I would like to get the Minister's comments on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. A project of that size would likely not be identified in the capital plan. It would come out of minor capital or O and M. We are aware of the issue. We will be working with the DEC to take a look at it in the near future.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just one final thing, then. Recently, MLAs and the council of Hay River invited Mr. Dent to come to Hay River to personally

take a look at the damage in a secondary school. I understand completely why he was not able to do that. However, again, for the benefit of those folks in Hay River who are anxious for the Minister to see this school, I would like to confirm that the Minister will still, at his earliest convenience, plan a trip to Hay River where he could have a comprehensive tour of the school facility and see the kinds of challenges that are being faced there right now, which would then go to the issue of the functional review that has already been conducted and the need to get the Diamond Jenness Secondary School on the capital plan for a midlife renovation. Could the Minister commit to planning a trip at his earliest convenience? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am happy to visit the community and take a look at the facilities. Visiting schools is one of the more pleasurable aspects of my job, so I look forward to visiting schools in the Member's community. Mr. Chair, I have already said, however, that I will do my best to ensure that the D.J. project is brought forward as we go into the business plan review this June.

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

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to start off by thanking the Minister and the department for the inclusion of the capital dollars that are coming to some much desired projects here in Yellowknife. St. Joseph School that suffered the fire over the summer, I am really happy to see the capital dollars there for the renovation, as well as the money to complete the Sir John Franklin renovations that were started a number of years ago and, as well, the Sissons, although it is a couple of years out or a few years out, the money is in the capital plan for the renovations at Sissons as well. I would like to commend the Minister for the hard work in getting the capital dollars into these much needed projects in Yellowknife.

I wanted to ask the Minister if the $964,000 that is scheduled to go into Sir John Franklin will complete the renovations. I know they were started a number of years ago. I am just wondering why it is taking so long to complete that project. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Dent.