I had asked specifically what systematic protocols are in place to capture the impacts of climate change on our infrastructure so that we can build our knowledge on that. I understand that we do have research dollars that we haven’t spent for many years that we keep forwarding on to future years, and I’m looking forward to some research eventually being done. I appreciate that information, but right now I’m asking what systematic protocols do we have? We have a lot of workers out there. We have a lot of assessments of our infrastructure, I am sure, that we need to do in order to do maintenance...

I do point out that this government spends tens of millions of dollars on areas that we have no mandate in. In terms of exploiting resources, I’m hoping we would do the same for protecting our citizens.

So my final question to the Minister is: How is it that fracking can happen in the NWT without going through the environmental assessment process? I think that’s a valid question for a government to be asking on behalf of its citizens. Thank you.

This Legislature needs to be informed, but our citizens also need to be prepared to participate effectively in any reviews and assessments. We need that information early on so citizens can digest and debate to be ready for public reviews. Will the Minister commit to getting information materials out to our public, perhaps in partnership with non-government organizations, presenting the variety of views that exist out there so that good debate and wise decisions can be made? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just again, in reverse order, where is then the maintenance work being planned? How is it being planned? What are we doing to ensure that the work is being done, for example in Sissons School in Yellowknife?

On the general purpose office building, of course, I disagree with the Minister. I think it’s entirely possible that the space be made available for arts without any impact on the private sector here. They don’t currently have it and there is an opportunity for paying for that, in fact, in working cooperatively with the federal government.

I would just like to note...

Some of the tours we’ve had of the hospital and talking to the CEO there and so on, there needs to be a lot of sort of functional studies done on what departments in the hospital need to be adjacent to each other and so on. A lot of that can result in highly increased efficiency of operations and so on; the lack of it, of course, increases costs. I’m wondering, has that work been done. Has that work been done or is that being done in our current fiscal year? It’s obviously not part of the schematic plans. It doesn’t seem like it would be, but I’d be interested to know that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I find this department intriguing and interesting, working in an area that has definite challenges but real clear opportunities. One of the opportunities and good work that’s being done is the adoption of the building standards; it’s 25 percent better than the Model National Energy Building Code, if I’ve got that term right. I appreciate that. The opportunity I see is to spread that to our communities, ideally starting with our Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. I’m wondering what opportunities this department has taken in working to get their sister...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to follow up on the Stanton facility, the work going on at Stanton. Some of these things could have gone into general comments but, obviously, we have not done a good job in the past and we’ve let slip many opportunities.

I’m very glad to see we’re finally starting to get in gear and get a program going to catch up with this territorial facility where the needs are, I’m sure – according to the employee, I’m sure we could hear them say desperate – there are many patients across the NWT who would echo that, so I’m very glad to see this happening.

I’m wondering, I...

Thank you for that response. My understanding is that, indeed, we have not had that opportunity the last few years and, thus, it is not surprising that there have not been updates, but I’d love to stand to be corrected on that.

My third question is: Looking at the composition of the steering committee working on this review, I don’t see any representation from user groups. I think that’s something we always want to include when we have a steering committee. Why is there not representation from user groups, a student association or something like that on this steering committee for the Student...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just one quick question here. I see the Kaw Tay Whee School in Detah is up for some much needed work, renovation. There has been a concern about mould in that community. I’m wondering if that problem has been taken care of or is this the work that’s meant to take care of that problem.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment following up on his Minister’s statement this morning on Student Financial Assistance review. I just want to start by confirming that this review will indeed include some additional support for upgrading as per the Minister’s commitment in earlier discussions in the House.