Alfred Moses

I also want to point out that the funding that we have given to the NWT Arts Council has been protected from any reductions moving forward, as well, and that we continue to support the arts sector and, as I mentioned in my previous answer, that we are going to be looking collectively at our contributions with all GNWT departments to see how much we are actually contributing and supporting the NWT arts community. Then we will have those discussions afterwards.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, the NWT Arts Council Strategic Plan is coming to an end this year. We are working with the Department of ITI to look at options on creating a new NWT Arts Strategy. Obviously, we want to also involve our advisory body with the arts council and standing committee when we are looking at these options. We will proceed with those options, and, after discussions with the Department of ITI, we will come back to the Members of the Legislative Assembly.

Currently, work has begun to determine the current status, the gaps in services, and how to best address these gaps when it comes to busing. A steering committee has been formed which includes representation from the NWT Superintendents Association, the Department of ECE, and the Financial Management Board to make recommendations on opportunities for potential improvements in providing student transportation for services from junior kindergarten to grade 12. We're going to work on gathering that data, and look at the recommendations, and once the analysis of the status is complete, we will...

As I mentioned, each school obviously decides what courses they want to offer. Each school is different from the next. Courses that are being offered in the Sahtu might be different from what's being offered in South Slave compared to some of our coastal communities. That's why one of our programs, the Northern Distance Learning Program is so important and such a great investment that we're able to offer some of these dash-1 courses to our rural and remote communities, and that's an initiative that this government is proud of, and will continue to support, but it really is a school...

As I mentioned, we are going to have to look at what our contributions are as a government with all our departments and work that we have with our partners and come back and see what our contributions and our supports for the NWT arts community are. I do feel that we are sufficiently supporting our arts community throughout the Northwest Territories. Once we have those numbers, we will share them with Members of this House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As I mentioned earlier in the question period here, I am confident that we are providing sufficient, fair, and equitable support for both the arts and the arts sector as well as the sports sector. We are going to have to look throughout the government to see what our contributions and supports for the arts community is. We will come back to this House and to Members and share that with them before we get into any further discussions.

As always, we are committed to looking at all of our assets and our infrastructure within all the areas that I mentioned earlier on a yearly basis and update them. Currently for this year, we are allocating about $223,000 for small capital funding, and that will be allocated for site demolition and removal for the hazardous portables and the creation of a play space for the students and the community.

We are also working with the hamlet to address some of the issues around safety for the students who are walking from within the community to the school; and also looked at possibly how we can...

We do have a few projects on the go. We're looking at a mid-life retrofit, including all major building systems within the Lutsel K'e Dene School; obviously, at Ecole Alain St-Cyr, we're still continuing to do work there; Mangilaluk School, in Tuktoyaktuk, we're putting some additions; the Charles Tetcho School, in Trout Lake, we are continuing to do some work there. That has been some of our major programs that we have got on tap here for 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, the Member is right. Within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, we have a needs assessment, a 20-year needs assessment, and we review it on an annual basis and update it on an annual basis. As you know, within the department, we have to look after schools, colleges, learning centres, libraries, museums, and make a priority out of those infrastructures, not to mention looking at the priorities of other departments within this government. As the Member knows, any time we look at putting in additional space or make it a new school, the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, this is a very special motion, and a very genuine motion for the clerk before us. It is a very special day, as well, in terms of celebrating and acknowledging the work, commitments, dedication, sacrifice from one of our own, Mr. Doug Schauerte, here at the House. He has committed himself and dedicated himself not only to what goes on in this House, but to Members, past and present, as well as residents of the Northwest Territories. He has been a mentor and a role model, not only to Members of the Legislative Assembly, but among his staff and his peers. I have...