Madam Chair, I think this is part of a planning stage, but I can turn it back. The Minister of ECE is nodding at me that this is at a planning stage, so there is still an intention, ultimately, to move this project forward, but for now, this is the geotechnical work that is being done in the background. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Is there an expected deadline for this school to be complete and open? Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Madam Chair, I don't know. I don't have a target date in front of me. I'm not sure if the Minister of ECE has that available.

Minister of ECE.

Thank you. No, there is no target date, and that's because we've been approached by the community to try and partner on the school and perhaps do things a little bit differently and, given the mandate of this Assembly that we want to do this differently, we're exploring that option. So it's not a straight-ahead GNWT build. We're trying to work with the Indigenous government and find a way forward. There's not much more I can say at this point, because that's really where we are, is really in the early stages, but this school is a priority. I heard about it during the entire last Assembly, and things haven't gotten any better, so this is a priority for myself and my department. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. No, I'm very happy to hear that from the Minister. I'm also wondering, in regard to the Mangilaluk School renovation and addition in Tuktoyaktuk, what the timeline is on that school being complete. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This is another one where, as I understand it, there is some early-stage work that still has yet to be completed and, although the project is proceeding, again, I don't have a target date in front of me. I'll turn it to the Minister of ECE, if he has one available to him at this stage. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Minister of ECE.

Thank you. This school, we put it out for tender. All the bids came in quite a bit over-budget, so we tried to work with one of the proponents. There is still some distance there, so we are looking at next steps. We want to get this done, as well, so I don't have a target date right now. It is dependent upon some decisions that will be made in the coming weeks, hopefully. There are other entities involved. I'm sorry I'm being so vague about this, but really, that's where we are right now. Again, this is another school that is a priority for us. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister. Member.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I guess just a general comment. I would love for us to get to the end of this Assembly and to be able to confidently say that every school in the Northwest Territories has running water, and I guess I look forward to the Minister's follow-up from his vague commitments. Thank you.

Thank you, Member. Minister of Finance.

I took that as a comment, Madam Chair. Thank you.

Any further questions? Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just in regard to bringing it up, I'd like to thank my colleague from Yellowknife, here, who brought up Mangilaluk School. The target date, working with COVID-19, our communities are suffering with no employment, nothing going on. I really think this is a shovel-ready project, and I think this should be brought to FMB to get the extraordinary funds that are needed to work with the proponent to get this contract started this year. From what I've been told, the gap for funds, they're a little bit stretched, but with everything that's been going on with shovel-ready projects, the federal government stepping in to help assist us in regard to these projects, when does the Minister think that a target date? This school has been in the books since 2007, because I was the one who brought it up in this House. You have 35-plus staff who use one bathroom. That's unsanitary. It's almost like having a honey bucket. So I think they have to really work with the proponent. I want a target date, and I really am pushing that we need this project to go. Thank you, Madam Chair, and a target date from the Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Certainly, I don't know that the federal government generally funds any sorts of school projects for us, which doesn't necessarily mean that the other comments are any less important or prescient regarding the needs of this school or the fact that it's been around and on the project plans for quite a long time. Certainly, at the very least, Madam Chair, before we're back in session, we will have a better plan. I don't know where we'll be at in terms of the project, but I can at least, at that point, report back, or the Minister of ECE will be able to report back and provide an update as to where this project is at. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Minister. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to remind the Ministers, the next sitting date after we're done here is October 15^th, and nothing is going to be happening in our ridings, because that's going to be freeze-up, and stuff like that. You can't do all the ground work that's needed to do the extension on that school. So, it being a shovel-ready project, why can't we go ahead with that project in regard to getting it started with the monies that we do have, the $12 million? Where does that come into play in regard to getting the foundation ready so we could be working this winter, potentially? Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member for Nunakput. Minister of Finance.