Again, I didn’t hear when this is going to happen. Perhaps the Minister can give some information on that.

Again, I don’t have a date right now, but it is a planning process that we need to make a move on. We have to work with other departments to move that further along with YK No. 1. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

In terms of the Kaw Tay Whee School in Detah, what are the standards for a gymnasium for a school like that and is there any plan to put such a facility in place? Thank you.

With any schools, we have to work closely, depending on the population of the students. We have to work with MACA if the school enrollment is under 150

students and also the community to find space availability for a gymnasium. For some schools, we build schools without a gymnasium because there’s a gymnasium in the community. So those are some of the reasons based on enrollment. If it’s lower than 150, then we have to work with Municipal and Community Affairs and also with community leadership to find a solution. So those are just some of the processes we have to go through within our ECE department, the capital planning process along with PWS and MACA as well. Mahsi.

Thanks for that. I’d appreciate maybe a commitment to get some information on what their plans are. Part of our problems in Weledeh is the community schools and the gymnasiums or recreational centres have been fulfilling the role of school gymnasiums and yet nobody is taking ownership of them. Sometimes they were built by the federal government, sometimes by GNWT, and both governments have shrugged and said okay, they’re your responsibility now, without providing sufficient funds to maintain or replace. So I wouldn’t mind an update on what the plans are now.

For K’alemi Dene, I believe we’re on the books for some sort of a school gymnasium, although when I look at the substantiation sheets they seem to be substantiating that there is no need. So maybe I could get clarification we are planning to build a gymnasium for the K’alemi Dene School in the near future, if not this coming fiscal year. At the same time, I’ll mention that the school was at capacity the day it opened. So is the Minister aware of this and the need to be considering additional space and perhaps this gymnasium will be built with the projections in mind that the facility was full the day it was opened. Thank you.

Mahsi. I would have to get Ms. Allison to just elaborate on details. Again, she’s been involved with this particular school as far as capital planning projects. So I’ll get Ms. Allison to elaborate.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Ms. Allison.

Thank you, Ms. Allison. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you. My understanding is that this is happening based on the substantiation sheet. Okay, that will help focus my attention that it should happen and I’d like the Minister to get going with that. Obviously, a substantial school, a gymnasium again that was shrugged off on to the community and it’s clearly in desperate need of replacement in a community that doesn’t have the capacity for that. So I’d ask the Minister to go after that and get that back on the books for the establishment of a good school for these kids. I mean, again, immediate occupation of that school at capacity and they need this sort of space to round out and help the approach to their education.

So I’ll leave that and just talk a little bit about the plans for the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. Some I’m moving away from education in the formal sense here. I’m happy to see the plans for some gallery development and lighting over the next couple of years. I think that’s definitely overdue. So I’m happy to see that. I’m also very happy to see the biomass heating system that’s being proposed for this year. So I’d support that. There are a couple of years we have on the books, I guess, another boiler for this facility and I don’t really understand that. Again, that’s in the projections for the fiscal year following the one under discussion here.

So I’m wondering if there’s any ready explanation for what that particular piece of capital is all about given that we’re putting a healthy amount into a new pellet boiler this coming year. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Just to note, Mr. Bromley, your time did expire. I’ll let Mr. Lafferty conclude with that and if you need more questions and more time, let me know and I’ll put you back on the list. For that response we’re going to go to Ms. Allison.

Thank you, Ms. Allison. Continuing on with the comments on page 8-7 I have Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to move a motion on page 8-7 regarding J.H. Sissons School and the renovation.

I move that this committee strongly recommends that the government take immediate action to identify the funding necessary to commence renovations on Ecole J.H. Sissons School in the fiscal year 2014-2015. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. We’re just to wait for the motion to get circulated. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you. I would first like to give credit to Mr. Bromley, who has brought this issue up here today. This isn’t his first occasion, nor should I miss the point of people like yourself, Mr. Chairman, Ms. Bisaro and there are many other MLAs of course who have brought up the need for J.H. Sissons to be brought up to date. When it comes to the quality of school, the facility needs desperate attention. It’s been brought up in committee many, many times. It’s been brought up for many years. I think we could speak at length to types of renovations that are necessary, but really it’s gone beyond speaking about it. It’s now to the point that we must commit actions for it and I know there are many schools out there and in ways that we all find on this side of the House to support. I know I’ve heard that Mr. Menicoche needs support for his school and I understand that, and J.H. Sissons is just one more school in a long list of schools that need help.

I think all of our schools deserve help. I know Mr. Yakeleya’s schools need help and he knows I’m there for him when it comes to these initiatives, as well, and I think no children should be, like they say, no children left behind, but no school left behind in desperate, despicable state, and the school is the oldest school I think in our inventory and certainly here in Yellowknife that has not had any facelift or serious renovation. It’s beyond desperate attention required at this point.

So rather than spending too much time, I just wanted to emphasize a few issues here while we were handing out the motion to all Members. I think this Assembly is well versed in the need for this school to be addressed. That said, I will ask for a recorded vote on this particular motion. Thank you.

Thank you Mr. Hawkins. To the motion.

Question has been called. The Member has asked for a recorded vote. All those in favor, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand.

Sorry about that, committee, just had to make sure we had the math right. All those in favor of the motion, we have seven. All those opposed, we have seven. Unfortunately, the Chairman has to vote in this case to prolong debate. The Chairman will be voting not in favor of the motion. Motion defeated.

---Defeated

Committee, we are on section 8-7, Education, Culture and Employment, activity summary, education and culture, infrastructure investment summary. Mr. Hawkins.