Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you. Thank you, committee. SergeantatArms, please escort the witnesses out of the Chamber. Thank you, committee. Committee, that brings us now to Municipal and Community Affairs. Does the Minister have any witnesses that she would like to bring into the Chamber?

Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister Cochrane.

Thank you, Mr. Testart. Minister Moses.

Thank you, Minister Cochrane. Mr. Beaulieu.

Motion is on the floor to report the progress, the motion is in order and it's non-debatable. All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you know with the overhaul of the hull, the engines, all the work that has been done to the engines, I believe it's up for replacement myself; it has over 25,000 hours as I've been told. That's almost $2 million there that could have been put towards a new vessel.

We have to start planning out how our spending or maintaining our equipment rather than replacing. I know a lot of that work has been done to a lot of our buildings, but, you know, we have to start planning properly here. Will the Minister ensure that a planning study has been taken on the Louis...

Mr. Speaker, what is the average estimated cost of a ferry vessel replacement?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, colleagues. Earning your driver's licence is a milestone for young people and a stepping stone to many skilled jobs, but highways, Mr. Speaker, are not the only way to get around. Strong and comprehensive transportation capacity liberates and empowers communities and individuals. For example:

operating four-wheelers and snowmobiles helps us access the land and our traditional practices;

barges bring essential supplies into our communities;

ferries like the Louis Cardinal, which makes stops at three landing sites, connect communities to each other for...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My next question is on learning centres, similar to Mr. Beaulieu. You know, in Fort McPherson, a good example. Our learning centre is in the same school as our high school, junior high and, you know, even JK. You know, I think that as adults it should be in a separate facility; it's like that in many other communities, a separate place from high school and that. Hopefully, the department can look at having a different facility in the community. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a couple questions here for the Minister. As he mentioned with the JK funding, I'm not sure if the Minister had an opportunity yet to visit the school in Tsiigehtchic, but you know at times we have junior kindergarten, kindergarten, grade one and two in the same classroom, so that just tells you the need that's in the community.

It's very difficult, as you can imagine, to teach four grades in one classroom. At times there is a partition there but it just goes to show the added stress that this puts on the teachers. I'm not sure if Tsiigehtchic is one of those...