What work is being planned to go forward for capital expenditures in this budget year that we see before us? What’s the planning from the departmental point of view? As I know that an independent campus is on the wish list of Aurora College, where does the deputy minister see their efforts panning out with some real developments?

Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. This particular topic, as you know, has been an ongoing discussion. I’ve met with the board, just as the Member has also met with the board, to talk about various options that they’re going to bring forward. We need to work with that organization. They will be bringing an options paper to us to work with. So we are waiting for that information. In due time we will be sharing with the Members or giving the Members a briefing on where we need to go from there.

Is the Minister able to provide a definition of what “in due time” means?

In due time could mean tomorrow, next week. It’s up to the organization to provide that information. Once they provide that information, I will be sharing it with the Members.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. As it’s been my understanding, they’ve been advocating some time about expanding the college programming here in Yellowknife and they’ve found that, you know, they haven’t found that -- if I may say it gently and, of course, correctly -- this report in my perspective seems to be not quite there from the department. I’m just trying to get a sense of whether the department is behind this initiative.

Furthermore, to emphasize the urgency of this particular issue, the Minister is well aware that the lease is coming to termination within two years. If I understand it correctly, Aurora College does not want to renew that lease other than for year to year. The cost of that running lease is getting exceptionally expensive. It has been counterproductive to their long-term goals. I want to see how the department is supporting their initiative of getting to an independent campus here in Yellowknife.

This is, of course, very important to us as the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. We have to look at our students and facilities as well. This has been in the works for quite some time now. The Member is referring to capital planning. There will be a discussion next year; this coming fall. We’ve already initiated our capital planning for last year. With respect to the college, there is going to be information coming forward and we will be working as a department with that information, once it’s delivered to us.

I thank the Minister for that answer. Is it the position of the department to support an independent campus in Yellowknife?

I fully support a campus in Yellowknife. We need to work with what exists in campuses that we have. We realize that the lease is running out, expiring. We need to work towards that -- that will be this fall -- to start planning for the next couple of years. Work closely with the college. Our Education department does realize that this is before us and we’ll do what we can as a department.

I did hear the Minister say he supports the campus but my question was about an independent campus. As the Minister knows, as well as countless people know, I feel very strongly and deeply that Yellowknife is in a position and certainly ready for an independent campus and should be working towards that goal. Therefore, I ask the Minister if he supports an independent campus Aurora College in Yellowknife.

We are working towards that, as I stated. We’re going to gather information. We may be looking at $60 million to $80 million, which we don’t have right now. We need to explore options. The Member is asking a specific question to the Minister. I have to support my existing campuses that we have currently as we move forward. We’re going to see how it looks at that time.

I think we’re sort of saying the same thing, but supporting an independent campus in Yellowknife is not supporting Aurora College in Yellowknife. I think those are two particular differences that we shouldn’t try to drive a wedge between, that shouldn’t exist. I believe it’s the same thing. That’s why I’m asking the Minister, although he says we’re working towards that, I’d like to know if the department supports an independent campus for Aurora College in Yellowknife.

I don’t know how else I can answer that. As I stated, yes, we support our campuses in Yellowknife and we’ll continue to support that.

We’re on page 10-13, Education, Culture and Employment, activity summary, directorate and administration, operations expenditure summary, $10.219 million.

Page 10-14, Education, Culture and Employment, activity summary, information item, directorate and administration, active positions.

Page 10-17. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to start with the early childhood development programs. To start with, I see we’ve got about $7.3 million there. I’m wondering what programs are included in that category, Early Childhood Development Program.

Page 10-17, Minister of Education. Deputy minister of Education, Mr. Daniels.

Thank you to Mr. Daniels for those remarks. My question is: in the commitment to undertake an Early Childhood Development

Program review, will all of those programs -- and I counted something like one, two, three, four, five, six, six or seven programs -- be part of that review?

Mr. Lafferty.