Thank you, Madam Chair. There are a few points I’d like to bring out here. First of all, the deferred maintenance is an important issue. We know that we have quite a backlog. We have made some progress and I appreciate that, and there’s still much more to go and the department is continuing to work on that. That’s good work.
I want to highlight the schools in Yellowknife. Particularly Sissons is one that keeps getting docked and put on the backburner, yet there’s obviously a very high need in that area. I’d appreciate knowing what the plan is for when that will finally be addressed. That’s been highlighted for many years now.
Also, on the order of the general purpose office buildings – 6,000 square metres – and other government infrastructure of this ilk that we’re contemplating, I’m wondering what the opportunity is for getting a policy in place where 1 percent of those facilities can become available to the arts communities in each community that we develop this infrastructure in. I’d like to specifically request that that be done for this particular general purpose office building in downtown Yellowknife.
I have had the opportunity to talk to Heritage Canada and somewhat to the arts community here. There’s a lot of enthusiasm and potential for project sharing and costs. I know and I’ve brought this to
the attention of Cabinet and perhaps there’s some progress happening there, but it’s a real opportunity and we need to start supporting these groups in realizing the benefits, especially to the local economies that they can bring. This is that 6,000 square metre office building. One percent of it would be obviously 60 square metres. That’s a little over 600 square feet. Not a huge amount but it could be very important space for the sorts of demonstration and advertising and administration, really, of the arts community in the capital.
I think I’ll actually save the rest for other divisions. I’ll leave it at that.