The Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll defer that technical question to Mr. Aumond.

Mr. Aumond.

Mr. Bromley.

That’s good for now.

Thank you. Next on the list I have Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ve been asking questions about the Diamond Jenness Secondary School renovation. I’ve been told that it was pushed back because they’re doing a program review to ensure they have the right configuration and enough space and so on, probably to address numerous issues.

One of the programs in the school that there’s been a lot of uptake on and a lot of interest in has been the pre-trades shop area. A while back there was a committee formed in Hay River to look at developing some kind of a trade training centre for Hay River.

My question is: can I get a bit more detail on the consultation that’s taking place, and would the

program review that’s being undertaken include additional program areas? Is it only looking at the activity that’s already taking place in the school and renovating the school to accommodate that, or could it be looking at additional programming?

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll refer that program question to the Minister of Education.

Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Certainly, there’s been a consultant who’s been hired to conduct the program review of the Diamond Jenness school towards the retrofit. He’s been there already, and he’s supposed to develop the package by the end of this month, October. Then from there we have to work with PWS to move forward on the planning process. It does cover the program and the current activity and also the future plans for the new school. Mahsi.

Thank you. Just to remind Members, we’re on page 7-7. Mrs. Groenewegen.

My questions weren’t on that page. What page are we on?

Interjection.

Thanks, Mr. Chairman. There’s been a precedent set in some communities that when a facility like a school is being built, where there is community interest, additional things can be added into that. I’d be interested in seeing what the terms of reference were for the consultant that was hired to do the program review and if I could get a copy of that.

Also, I’d like to know if any other — since we’re delayed anyway — community groups would have been consulted. I mentioned a trades centre. There may be also some interest in a daycare centre being built in the school; that was something that was considered at one time. We’re looking for creative ways to ensure that students stay in school and that if they’re not interested in the academic stream, they may be interested in the trades. Or if we are talking about young women who have children and have dropped out of school and want to come back….

I’d like to know if the scope of the consultation, as undertaken by the consultants Mr. Lafferty has referred to, would include talking to any other community groups outside of the existing program and people who are working in the school, I guess. Has there been any provision made for that?

Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’ll refer that program question to the Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty, with your agreement.

Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Certainly, that consultation had covered those people who are working within the school. The Member asked for the terms of reference. I can share what I can share from my department on moving forward with the consultant. My understanding is that those individuals or groups that are within the school have been consulted, but I will double-check with my department if that’s an avenue the consultant initiated. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Just a clarification on how soon we expect to provide that information on the program review.

Mr. Chair, the program review should be available within the next two weeks, the end of this month.

Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I was actually interested in the terms of reference of the program review. I would like to know

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and as I

have indicated, there have been add-ons to government infrastructure

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if there is funding

available through other sources or through community resources to incorporate other activities — maybe not specifically into high school education — into buildings that are being built. Like I said, since we’re delayed now, anyway, on this capital project…. Not to muddy the waters, but I think it would be good to put out some kind of a call for anybody who may have input in the community, who may be interested, for example, in the trades area or the child care area.

Minister of Finance.