Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We will be more than willing to share that with the committee members. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary question, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At the same time, I’d like to request some information on Sissons. As I understand it, there are, I’m going to say, code violations, although I’m not sure that’s the right phrase. So I stress I don’t want to cause any alarms, but if I understand it, there were some violations that were important upgrades. Whether it be the fire alarm system or things of that nature, I don’t recall them at this particular second, but there was an assessment on short-term needs at Sissons, and I’m wondering if I can get a briefing note that reflects the immediate and medium-term Sissons’ needs done as an upgrade until we get to the larger updating of the school. Can I request a copy of that information? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Yes, we will be providing more detailed information to the Members. We have been working with Public Works and Services on providing an update on the technical status evaluation in March of 2011 on the actual building. But if there are deficiencies that we should be aware of, certain areas that are not up to code, then we should be aware of it. We haven’t been notified in that area, but we will be providing the latest status that we have. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Moving on to the second round of questioning I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to ask a question about the Kaw Tay Whee School. I know the Minister was able to get some work done on that school, but obviously our enrolment is increasing quite a bit. There’s some very good leading taking place there, but they’re finding it more and more challenging in the space available, to the point where the community has gone to private enterprise and sought help in building an appropriate school facility. It just seems a little bit piecemeal and, obviously, that should be the responsibility of public funds. Can the Minister give me an update on where we’re at with the Kaw Tay Whee School and getting it renovated to the point it needs to be at, given the soaring enrollment there? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. In 2012-2013 for the Kaw Tay Whee School there’s been a request for interior works, $286,000. The DEA has requested additional time for raising

external funding for this particular project. So in an effort to increase the scope to include the classroom addition that the Member is referring to, the funding will be carried over to fiscal year 2013-2014. So we are working with the DEA on this particular school and we need to respect their wishes, as well, but we’ll do what we can to complete that project as well. Mahsi.

Thank you. I’m wondering if this is a new policy that leaves the provision of public facilities to communities to work with private enterprise and seek funding arrangements for public facilities. Is that a new policy that Education is embarking on, and should our community schools be out there seeking funding partners other than the government for this responsibility?

Mahsi. It’s been standard within our department that we need to work with the DEA, as well, and especially when it comes to school additions or renovations or retrofits. In the past the school boards have contributed in certain areas of their own investment for expansion. So we need to be mindful of that, where they play a key role as well. There’s been an increase in funding as well. I’m just reading over the document that’s been provided to us. So, again, the DEA wrote to our department offering a contribution of $64,000 to increase the scope of work to include the classroom addition. So we are, again, working with them. We have done so in the past with other DEAs and DECs as well. So we’ll continue to make that work. Mahsi.

Thank you for that information and I appreciate the Minister’s comments there. I wonder if he could provide committee with the policy that you have on this sort of business where we seek resources or permit or partner with DEAs such as those going out to private enterprise for support for public infrastructure.

We’ll provide the information. Again, the information item for Members is: September 2012, of course, the DEA, Kaw Tay Whee School added Grade 7 and also plans to add a Grade 8 in September 2013. So those are the discussions that we are having with the school board and I just wanted to give an update to the Members as well. Mahsi.

That’s also good information to have. Obviously, it’s in my riding and I’d be interested in maybe a briefing from the Minister on where we’re at with that school and what the vision is of the department for that facility and the role they see for the DEA and other partners. Thank you.

We can provide a detailed briefing or briefing materials to the Member if that is the wish. Mahsi.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Committee, we are on page 8-7, Education, Culture and Employment, activity summary, education and culture, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $2.329 million.

Thank you. If I can get Members to turn back to 8-2, Education, Culture and Employment, department summary. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The advanced education went by so fast I just wanted to ask a quick question with respect to Aurora College. I understand for the Yellowknife Campus – I think we asked this last year – that we’re running out on the lease. Has that been renewed? Where are we at with that and what’s the thinking on providing a new campus for Aurora College in Yellowknife? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. As I stated earlier, we did extend that lease agreement this fall for up to three years, and potentially up to five years, depending on the progress that we’re making. We’re working closely with Public Works and Services and also private contractors out there. We’re looking at all options, how we can build this facility and that is the discussions that we’ve been having. So we have extended the lease up to five years. Three years first and then we can extend it for another two years if we need more time. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Again, committee, 8-2, Education, Culture and Employment, department summary, infrastructure investment summary, total infrastructure investment summary, $3.205 million. Does committee agree?

Thank you, committee. Does committee agree that consideration for Education, Culture and Employment has been concurred with?