That facilities plan that the Minister talks about sounds awfully familiar to a facilities plan that I think was done when there was an issue of the fire at Ecole St. Joseph and the space utilization in the schools in Yellowknife and that was an issue. I think there was a facilities plan done at that time. So how is the one that the Minister is talking about any different from the one that was already done? Thank you.

It will be the latest iteration, including what currently exists, the current numbers that are there, the current projections on enrolments and the improvements that have already been made since the last one was done. Thank you.

Again, I do look forward to that. Again, I’m very appreciative of the government’s work and the Department of ECE on getting the renovation work done at Ecole St. Josephs in my

riding and I think that’s going to be a definite benefit to the community when all is said and done. It looks good and I’m glad to see that that’s moving forward and it’s scheduled to be concluded sometime, I hope, by the end of this year. I wanted to again say thank you very much for that. We appreciate that.

One other question while I’ve got the floor, Mr. Chairman, is on the Inuvik school. I’m a big supporter of that school in Inuvik getting built. I just want to know how much it’s going to cost. When we were in committee, whether it was $115 million or it was $95 million, nobody really seemed to know exactly how much that school is going TO cost and I think we really need to try to peg that down at some point in time and it can’t just be a negotiated contract that’s wide open with no ceiling. I hope that’s not the case. So, again, I just wanted to ask the Minister do we know exactly what the school in Inuvik is going to come in at? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Just before we can go any further, the department we’re under is dealing with advanced education and careers and we’re on the college discussion. The one dealing with schools and education is on page 8-6. So if we can talk about schools in that context when we get there. So if you want to keep your question, you’re on careers and development on this page and then we’ll get there. Mr. Minister, did you want to respond to questions raised by Mr. Ramsay?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The number remains unchanged from last year. It’s a fixed price contract. Thank you.

I’ve got a number of questions on how that is a fixed price contract, but I appreciate and I’m sorry that I jumped the gun on getting to that, but I’ll ask those questions when we get to that page. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Next on the list I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’m not sure if my question is totally related to schools, but relative to the facilities study or facilities plan that is being done within Yellowknife -- and I think the Minister referenced that that study will consider space for Aurora College in Yellowknife -- I’d like to know who is doing this particular facilities plan or study and whether or not the boards of the various educational organizations are involved, that being the French and Aurora College and the Catholics and the public? Thank you.

Deputy minister of Education, Mr. Daniels.

That’s fine. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Okay. We’re on page 8-4, Education, Culture and Employment, activity summary, advanced education and careers, infrastructure investment summary, total Infrastructure investment summary, $13.234 million.

Agreed. We’ll move on. Page 8-6, Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was going to ask some questions and then we were on the wrong page, so I held off.

On this section I’m also a little sad to see that there is no reference to J.H. Sissons. It is a school that’s quite old, clearly in need of some modifications. I understand that it’s being done as part of the facility review. The reason I was going to ask this question in the last section is I’m not suggesting that this is maybe the best use of that facility, but I understand that enrolment levels are going down in Yellowknife. I also understand that enrolment at Sissons is quite low and if we’re trying to maximize the use of our facilities, if we’re trying to gain the maximum benefit for every dollar, maybe, maybe it’s time to consider changing the use of a building like Sissons and possibly, maybe, that should be our Yellowknife Campus. If we have to do a bunch of modifications to that building anyway, I’d like to see it as part of the facilities review that that is maybe considered as an option. It may not be appropriate, but unless we do the review or study on it, we won’t know. If we only have 50 percent capacity in that building right now as a school, and we could fit kids in different buildings, maybe it is time to start thinking outside the box a little bit and whatnot. I guess it is more of a suggestion that when you are doing your facilities review, to consider possibilities, to consider options that we haven’t considered before and think about something like Sissons as possibly a Yellowknife Campus.

I guess that is more of a comment, but it needs to be fixed up. Maybe we could kill two birds with one stone here. I would be interested to hear what the Minister had to say.

Minister of Finance.

That is a capital idea. The facilities review will be looking at those very type of options, recognizing the Member is on the money on his comments about observations about the enrolment rates and the space and those types of things. Yes, we are going to have to look at all options and put our resources to the best use. We have to think outside of our

program silos; sometimes maybe departmental silos, but for sure the programs that we want to see what is possible, looking at all the resources which is far dwarfed by the needs. We have to have those kinds of reviews. Thank you.

I would like to thank the Minister for that response. I am happy to see that we are willing to start thinking outside the box.

Just with respect to that particular site, I think another advantage of that particular Sissons site is that the government in some capacity owns it, but it also has that giant playground. When I went to Sissons, we called it Soaker Cemetery. That is where we used to go and play and get lots of soakers. It would also be a significant amount of property that we can use for maybe a housing project for the college. There are lots of advantages to that type of property and thinking outside the box. I am happy to hear that the department and the Minister are willing to think outside the box and try to maximize the value of every dollar we spend as a government. Thank you.

I appreciate the continued good suggestions from the Member. I do understand, though, YK1 owns the property, but be that as it may, it is still going to be looked at, as the Member has suggested. Thank you.

Next on the list I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe there has been contemplation of a phase two on Ecole Allain St-Cyr. I am wondering what the status of that is and I know there is a lot of interest amongst parents to see that implemented. Where is that at? What is the plan phase two? Thank you.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Negotiations are still continuing with Heritage Canada in terms of the funding requirements of phase two. Thank you.

I appreciate that, Mr. Chairman. What sort of time frame are we looking at for resolution to those negotiations? Is there any context to the negotiations that can be shared at this point? Thank you.