Caroline Cochrane

Gyms are important in communities. Children need to have physical activity, so the Department of Education does try to make sure that there is some kind of facility. In communities where there are under 150 students, it is not feasible at this time to actually put in a school gym, so what the department does in that case, they try to work with the community to make sure that there is activity to a facility that children can access as a gym. So, in that community, I know that they are looking at building a new gym or extending it, so, in that case, we are more than willing to work with the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Most Members know that I just took over this portfolio a month ago, and so I didn't know what was going on before that time. However, I did ask the department, and they told me that no options were developed specifically for the community. However, at a community expansion meeting held in October 2017, the department confirmed that there was sufficient space on the land reserve where a larger community gym could be built. I don't believe, according to my notes, that they looked at different options, but they did reaffirm that the space that the school was on could...

Yes, during one of the dinner events that I went to, I did tell them at that time that I wanted to meet with them, that I wanted to have at least a four-hour meeting that we could actually talk about the direction and how we could work together. I did meet with them, and like I had said earlier, I also met with them during lunch hours, but it was only a matter of going in, saying a cordial "glad to work with you," and then I had to run back. I don't really consider those actually directional meetings, and nor should I, because it is not my authority to give direction to them.

The honourable...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I did promise to do a survey regarding voices of women. At this point, we have not got that developed yet. I think it is okay to say that my last women's advisor actually decided to move back to her home community about that time, so I just hired a new woman, Elizabeth. I can't think of her last name at this point. So we will be reinstating that work.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We were hoping that all the renovations, et cetera, would be done for the last fiscal year, but we had to carry over some. For the Fort Liard one, the money was carried over to finish the JK sink in the washroom, which I hear is done, I'm not sure, and to construct a fence for the outdoor play area and the equipment. All of the schools will need specialized play equipment for that age group. We are in the process for doing that for most of the schools. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, that Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Student Financial Assistance Act, be read for the second time. The bill amends the Student Financial Assistance Act to extend the term of appeal board members from two years to up to four years and to amend the qualifications for the post-secondary student representative on the appeal board to include individuals who have been a post-secondary student within the five years preceding the appointment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I should clarify that at no point during the campaign schools do we tell people, "This is what you need to do when you become a politician." That isn't the purpose of it. It is actually just to give them the tools to be able to campaign, to give them the tools so that they can actually build the confidence that they need to get in there. Once they get into those governments, then those are their own choices to make on where they want to go with that.

Why is it good to have it internally at this point? Because we have the resources internally. We have the electoral. We have Municipal and...

I am hoping that the Status of Women Council actually will, and I do know that they are trying to do some issues, working with women in getting them into leadership as well.

When I was first elected in this position, my budget wasn't as generous as it is now, although I am not saying it is that generous, but the Status of Women Council put forward a proposal, and they asked for $15,000 just to do one workshop. I believe, at that point, I may be wrong, I think my budget was only $20,000 to do two, which meant I was in a deficit. We had to look at it and see if there was a more cost-effective way...

As a Minister, my responsibility is to represent all communities and all residents of the Northwest Territories. I would be more than honoured to actually go with the Member to the community to actually work with the community and see what we can do to support them. As the Member stated, my schedule is very busy over the summer with all of the graduations that are taking place, but as soon as we can find a mutually agreeable time, I am more than willing to go in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Quality and safe education in the community; I am guessing you are meaning facilities in the community. Student safety is a primary focus within all education systems in the Northwest Territories. Every school has a safety plan. We make sure that we take care of the children as best as possible. Incidents will occasionally happen. As soon as incidents happen, we go in. We do an investigation. We make sure that that issue hopefully wouldn't happen again. We look for solutions for that. I know that, if there are issues with gyms, et cetera, if we don't have that support, then we look at other...