Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Along the same lines, in the 20-year assessment there is a capital item, the community learning centre. There's a 2018-2019 in the 20-year assessment within the next five-year capital plan time. In Ndilo there is a community learning centre scheduled in the 20-year assessment for 2018-2019. I was wondering if the Minister could give me a schedule update on the community learning centre for Ndilo.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. When you look at the 20-year needs assessment, you can see there are a lot of projects going on right across the Territory. When the needs are recognized, it's also based on priority. As I mentioned, we only have so many infrastructure dollars to go around to all the departments and to go around in our department as well, whether it's a learning centre or a school. With the schools, in terms of replacing schools or adding any additions, it is based on that utilization rate of 85 per cent. So even though it is on a needs assessment, it would have to meet a priority to get into the capital planning, five-year capital planning.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Staying with the community learning centres, there is also one contemplated in the capital needs assessment at 2020-2021 for Fort Resolution. They have a very old building used as a community learning centre. So I would like to well, no, make more comments before I ask the Minister a question.

In approximately 2009 or 2010, there was money set aside in the capital plan to leverage federal dollars to build community learning centres. I know that the Member from Mackenzie Delta and myself were able to take advantage of the federal funding and were able to get one new community learning centre built in Lutselk’e and Tsiigehtchic. I was wondering if the Minister could tell us if that money that was available from the federal government would still be available for the GNWT to leverage? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Minister.

Yes, I think that funding was only available around that time. I think moving forward plus, like I say, we're in a financial situation to try to leverage more dollars. We have to have those conversations with the federal government. But right at this time, we don't have those dollars to leverage those projects. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the Minister could commit to having that discussion with the federal government. On the community learning centres, as we know, and in the small communities, the community learning centre, it's an active place, many people benefit from that. There is, as I've always indicated, low employment in the communities and it would be nice to be able to support adult students that are trying to upgrade their skills to make themselves more employable. I would ask the Minister if he could commit to having that discussion with the federal government to see if that money would be possibly available again and, if not, having a serious look at this as a regular capital planning item?

Both of these learning centres, Mr. Chairman, the one in Fort Resolution is scheduled for like 2021, as I indicated, and Ndilo scheduled at 2018-2019. I'd just like to see if I can get that commitment from the Minister? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Definitely any way we can increase our connection to Ottawa and build those relationships to look at how we can get extra funding to assist with our infrastructure shortages, the aging of our infrastructure in the NWT when it comes to educational institutions. I think it's something that we want to work on and I will commit to trying to have those meetings. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the response from the Minister. I think that there is certainly a lot of discussion at the federal level about wanting to develop a system, like a homecare system that will support individuals in the long run. I think these projects educating our adults and so on are something that is going to be positive. It would be programs that could be run out of there that could assist the communities. It could defer costs in the future, social costs in the future to our government. I appreciate the Minister's willingness to have those discussions. If the federal government just doesn't have the money to do it, I'd still encourage or urge the Minister to really look at these community learning centres as they’re scheduled in the 20-year needs assessment for possible placement into the five-year capital plan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. I didn't really hear a question. But do you want to add to that, Mr. Minister? Go ahead.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the comments and the remarks. As mentioned earlier today, I've been to about 20 of the 33 communities in the Northwest Territories since being in the position of Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. A lot of those communities have gone into the learning centres, and I've done tours of the schools and there is a need out there. We only can stretch our dollars so far, that any federal support that we can get is going to be greatly appreciated and I know that the communities will want to see some extra dollars there as well. So I appreciate the support and the comments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Recognizing the time, we'll move on. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple questions here for the Minister. As he mentioned with the JK funding, I'm not sure if the Minister had an opportunity yet to visit the school in Tsiigehtchic, but you know at times we have junior kindergarten, kindergarten, grade one and two in the same classroom, so that just tells you the need that's in the community. It's very difficult, as you can imagine, to teach four grades in one classroom. At times there is a partition there but it just goes to show the added stress that this puts on the teachers. I'm not sure if Tsiigehtchic is one of those communities slated for addition there, but it would be nice if it is. That's my first question, thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Currently, Tsiigehtchic isn't on the list but, as I mentioned, we are continuing to do that survey and it is based on needs of the community. If the Member is saying that there is a need in the school, we'll reach out to them and see what kind of resources they have in the school for the junior kindergarten. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Mr. Blake.

Sounds good. Just on my next question, I know it's not in the plans until next year but, the department has done a good job replacing both Chief Paul Niditchie School and Chief Julius School but now it's time to replace Moose Kerr School. I know I did ask the question to the Minister to begin a planning study. I know it is in the works for the next couple years here, and I'm just hoping the department has begun that work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Over the past years there has been funding given to the community to upgrade the facility. Some was roof replacements, foundation remediation. We did tour that school as well. The foundation is good. Utilization rate of Moose Kerr School I think is 41 per cent. As I mentioned, when the utilization rate gets to 85 per cent then that's when we look at replacing the school or retrofitting or adding onto it. As I mentioned, it has been identified for renovations or replacement in approximately 2019, but we'll continue to work with all our schools moving forward just to see what condition they are and continue to monitor the utilization rates in each of the schools. Thank you, Mr. Chair.