Based on the availability of contractors here to help build, we are hoping, and our intention is, to have the facilities available for students by September 2018.

Yes, we did send a letter to initially start the discussions. We have been keeping regular meetings with the Federation FrancoTenoise. Most recently on Friday, we had a really good dialogue. As I mentioned, we are putting that application together and making sure that, as a department, we’re taking the responsibility to make sure that we can look at the expansion of Ecole Allain St-Cyr. As I mentioned, we have officials from both departments that are going to set up a meeting on Friday, and we’ll move it from there to see what our next steps are. I’m hoping that next time I am in Ottawa that...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome all seniors that are joining us here today, particularly Elizabeth Kunnizzie from Inuvik and Jeanna Graham. I did work with Jeanna many years ago as a community health rep and we did a lot of really good work together through the Northwest Territories. I’d also like to recognize Mr. Stephen Jackson, who gave me a great tour of Avens not too long ago and I appreciate the work that they are doing. As well as welcoming and acknowledge Mr. Ron Smith and I know Mr. Wade Blake’s up there as well and appreciate the work that they’re doing. Our Minister gave...

The department is meeting our obligations for French first language education under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Education Act, and the NWT Court of Appeal decisions. We are currently working on, hopefully, to break ground on a new gymnasium in the summer of 2017. I have also committed to trying to set up a meeting to go into the school to actually meet with the students and the staff, as well. We are hoping to break ground on a new gymnasium in the summer of 2017.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. On March 31st, we did send a letter to Minister Joly in regards to work that needs to be done on all schools throughout the Northwest Territories. We are working with Heritage Canada, putting together an application, actually, for Heritage Canada’s complementary funding and education program which supports the construction and expansion of community space and education institutions. As I mentioned, we did write a letter. I wrote Minister Joly in looking at possible funding supports that are available to minority language education, and later this week officials from both...

Last week we did go through the main estimates. We did approve the education budget. We did mention that there are some funding sources out there in terms of heritage, as well as the arts and cultures. Some of them are contributions that we can get under $15,000, and I encourage NWT Pride or the events that the Member is mentioning submit an application to our department, and we will take it into consideration.

With the gay-straight alliances in the two communities that the Member has brought up, we have to do a school visit with those two schools. I will make it a point that when I do go to those schools for a school visit, that we will sit down with the group and see what we can do as a territorial initiative and have them on board to initiate that and be territory-wide leaders, not just in the communities but for the whole Northwest Territories. I look forward to working with them on that. I will get the department to look into that, and once we get a chance, we will do a school visit and look at...

Yes. As the Member does know, the Safe and Caring Schools Act is new. It is something that was brought forth in the 17th Assembly, and I had the honour to sign off on it earlier in this term. We also have a territorial school code of conduct within this act. The territorial school code of conduct states that it is the responsibility and the right of the school communities to promote equity and fair treatment of one’s self and others. It also states that the school community is to refrain from discriminating against others on the basis of race, colour, ancestry, nationality, ethnic origin...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always good to recognize good friends and success stories in the Northwest Territories. With that said, I would like to recognize Jozef and Lesa Carnogursky, have been good friends and have been very successful in their lives and what they do for residents of Inuvik and the region and throughout the North as well. I’d also like to recognize James and Maureen. I went to school with their kids, and they’re all doing really well as well. Of course as mentioned here, the delegates for the United States Riding States Leaders. This is the first time they’ve been to...

In earlier questions about the gay-straight alliances that are happening in Mackenzie Mountain School and St. Pat’s, I think that is a great avenue to get attention on this area to the communities. I said they could actually be the leads right throughout the Northwest Territories. I do look forward to meeting the two groups and, be they willing, look at how we can try to develop something territorially. Outside of the school, that is very hard to regulate. We are looking at ways that we can do it on the school grounds. Outside, inside the communities, is always something tough. When we did the...