This is page numbers 6849 - 6882 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was safety.

Topics

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Trout Lake School, there’s been some work on the school itself and part of just some minor capital upgrades scheduled for the school that was slated for 2010-2011 as part of the capital plan. We talk about the new capital plans that are coming up in the 16

Assembly and on to the 17

Assembly. So

those are the discussions that need to take place with the school board, and I need to work closely with the school board and also the Members as well. Mahsi.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much. I know that the priority of this government and the past government in the 15

Legislative Assembly were

concentrating on big schools, and more recently like a super school in Inuvik at a cost of $100 million. I think in our small, remote communities this government should start making it a priority. There are small costs involved. Just off the top of my head, from a bird’s eye view I would estimate about $3 million and downwards for a small school to serve the needs of small communities. I’d like to ask the Minister about making this a priority of the government; put it in their transition documents, because I really foresee we’ve got to start taking care of our regions and communities. Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. This government does provide priority to those schools in the Northwest Territories as part of the capital planning process as we move forward. The super school that the Member is referring to took over 10 years from the planning stages until the final result. So sometimes it does take some time. But definitely in the Nahendeh riding we’re fully aware of the two schools that the Member is referring to, and we’ll continue to work with the school boards to identify those priorities. The work is already underway in the schools as well. Mahsi.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

With the communities of Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte, how much pre-planning work has been done? How much dedication and effort has the department put towards these communities in terms of planning, costing it out, even a Class D estimate for these two communities? Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I don’t have the actual breakdown, but I do have the paperwork with the PWS that we work closely together with the school board to identify the needs of the community, the schools, and also the needs of the school board. So we can provide that information to the Member or Members for their information as well. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Kevin A. Menicoche

Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That’s the type of rhetoric I’ve been hearing, is planning, and studying, and looking at it. I’d like to ask the Minister when will the Minister and this government make the regions and small communities a priority when it comes to schooling. Thank you.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi. One of the priorities is, of course, the schools, as part of my portfolio as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. That is my priority. I have to look after all of the schools, make sure they’re well operated, and also that it meets the community’s needs as well. So those schools that have been identified for future consideration definitely will be in the work of

the 17

Assembly. So those are the discussions

that need to take place as well. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along the same lines of Mr. Menicoche, the government seems to be forgetting our small communities and the students. The students in the smaller communities are basically the future of our riding. Given that currently there are many students in Nunakput that for various reasons have left high school and moved back to their home communities, reasons such as nowhere to live or not enough moral support or resources, will the government immediately commit to funds and resources for the one high school teacher or students who could at least earn some high school courses in the community of Sachs Harbour? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Simply, we are not forgetting the students out there. We are covering the northern students, the isolated students, and also the students of the Northwest Territories. We provide funding to the school boards so they can sponsor those students in their schools, in their regions, as well as supporting them going through a transition of another community. So those are the support mechanisms that we provide through the school boards, Mr. Speaker.

At the same time, my department is working closely with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council to make it effective and efficient when students are attending from isolated communities. So we will continue to push the school board. The final decision also lies with the school board, Mr. Speaker. I have to respect that and we have to work with them. Mahsi.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I have been here for three and a half years and I have been hearing that same answer regarding my Member’s statement that I have brought up every session regarding students in Sachs Harbour. The final decision is your decision. You could make a Minister’s directive to do it. I am asking the Minister why can’t he help the smaller communities, especially Sachs Harbour that needs a teacher in the community this year. If not, we should get a house in Inuvik slated to have students under a boarding home for students from

Sachs Harbour alone for a safe place to live. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

At the beginning, also mid-term and at the end of our term we were told not to make any major or drastic changes...

Some Hon. Members

Ohhh....

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

...with the current government system. At the same time, again, this is an area that we need to seriously look at with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. We provide funding to them so they can deliver those key deliverances into the communities and regions as well.

Yes, the Member has raised that issue in the House. At the same time, the Member should also be raising that issue with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council because we are working hand in hand with them. I need to work with them to strengthen those ties because, again, we provide funding through them to the region. Mahsi.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

I haven’t given up on the students in my riding. Maybe this government has. Will this government conduct a thorough review on why so many high school students from the small, isolated communities are dropping out on behalf of the small communities committee? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

Clearly, we are not giving up on the students. We are supporting all students of the Northwest Territories. We represent 33 communities. Through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, the tabling of the document in this House, clearly highlights the strategy that’s in place to identify those students who are struggling, those students from isolated communities, and those students who may be challenged. Those are the people that we need to continue to work with. It’s a new document. It’s going to strengthen the communities, it’s going to strengthen the education system of the Northwest Territories. I’m looking forward to working on that joint implementation stages, working with all the MLAs, Aboriginal leadership, educators as well, the parents, and the students.

Those are the new initiatives that are underway. Clearly, we are seeing some changes. Sometimes it does take time, but time is of the essence, so I tabled the document and I’m looking forward to establishing that as well. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Jackie Jacobson

Jackie Jacobson Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the cost is very minimal to provide housing in Inuvik, especially when you have a house lined up and ready for us to come in with students from the community. I wonder if the Minister would get in touch with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council

with myself to see how far we can take this. School is about nine days away from starting in the Beaufort-Delta. Is it possible to get something done? It doesn’t cost as much as a bridge.

---Laughter

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

We will definitely follow through with the Beaufort-Delta Education Council. It could be small, but at the same time we have to respect all the regions. It’s not just one region that is faced with a challenge. At the same time, we’ll definitely follow through. Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

David Ramsay

David Ramsay Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are in follow up to my Member’s statement from earlier today where I talked about the plight of the 1,100 residents of the Northland Trailer Park located here in Yellowknife. They are prisoners in their own home. They can’t sell their homes. All they have to look forward to this winter is more line breaks, intermittent water service. The issue is not new. The wheels of government are slow. They do turn slowly. I understand that, but this file has been on the Minister’s desk in Ottawa for 15 months.

As I mentioned in my Member’s statement, a catastrophic line break is almost imminent. That infrastructure should have been replaced 15 years ago. I’d like to ask the Minister of MACA where exactly the file... Actually, the first question I have is: whose desk is that file on in Ottawa, so that we can hopefully start a letter writing campaign or whatever it takes to get them to do something about this, Mr. Speaker? Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.