Merci, Monsieur le President.
[Translation] Mr. Speaker, I have raised fairly often the idea of increasing the size of a francophone school here in Yellowknife in the riding of Frame Lake. With the cooperation of the francophone school board in the Northwest Territories regarding this important project, as ordered by the court, it seems to be complicated. I asked the Minister of Education to guarantee a cooperative approach at the time of the presentation of the design for the increase in size by Heritage Canada. It seems that we should agree on the elements that will be presented, and that the supporting letters from the commission and the Association of Rights Holders would accompany the submission made to Heritage Canada.
I spoke with those who are responsible for the proclamation on January 24th, and I learned that they had not received the submission file. They only received it on December 16th, and that they had sent their own letter to Heritage Canada. To weigh certain concerns about the application presented by the Government of the NWT, this situation does not make things easier. On working together, we could reduce the cost related to the increase in the size of the school so that Heritage Canada would take the responsibility of a larger share of the cost, and would improve the public establishment. This would affect all the parties. The allocations of additional funding to 2016-17 were approved during the fall session in order to start the work to increase the size of the school, the expansion cost.
We understand the expansion of the Ecole Allain St-Cyr school has been delayed far too long. It would be a good idea if work could start as soon as possible; however, the cooperation is indispensable. I will have questions later for the expansion and lack of a collaborative process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. [End of translation]