Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake simply has to be a stand-alone school. I’ve been speaking about this with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, with my colleagues and in committee meetings. I would like to see it in our capital budget.

During my last visit to Trout Lake this fall, the chief and leadership were not happy to hear that a renovation was planned rather than the GNWT building a new school. The community’s wishes have been well known to the Minister and to this

government for many years. Trout Lake has grown in recent years. In fact, Stats Canada has shown this is a growing community, especially in the zero to 10 years age category, meaning that school enrollments have increased and will continue to increase. That’s good news, but we also need even better news: a new school.

The biggest concern is that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is doing renovations to the building that do not take the community’s needs and wishes into account. The residents do not want to lose their valuable community hall and activity space, which they use six days a week.

Also, I am concerned that renovating the existing facility will delay and even defer the decision to build a proper school for the community of Trout Lake. The community has been waiting too long.

I will have questions for the Minister of Education at the appropriate time. Mahsi cho.