Frederick Blake Jr.

I see that the Minister has said that this building is due for replacement in 2019. So I’d like to ask the Minister, is the school on the red flag list? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I was asking about Moose Kerr School, so I have questions for the Minister of Education. As I mentioned, the school is 45 years old and built around the time that asbestos was used in many of the buildings.

I’d like to ask the Minister, has the school been tested for asbestos? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Shortly after the fall session I was asked by a constituent to bring forward questions to the Minister and this government about Moose Kerr School. Moose Kerr School is now 45 years old this year. Moose Kerr School was built around the same time as Samuel Hearne Secondary School and also SAM School, and as we all know, those schools have been taken down and replaced. It also makes you ask the question about asbestos. That is very harmful to the health of our students, and I believe a 45-year-old school has had its purpose and it’s time to replace that piece of...

I know last year we had a commitment that the Minister would work with NWT Housing to provide services, whether it’s someone coming in during the day to work with the elders to do exercising programs or make sure that they all have meals. Is the Minister going to follow through? Thank you.

It has been identified over the last couple of years here that we need to do things differently. One thing we’re lacking in our small communities is quality education like automotives and carpentry and welding, those kinds of facilities in our schools. I’d like to ask the Minister, will he ensure that that building is replaced and have those facilities at hand? Thank you.

As I mentioned, the school is 45 years old. So I’d like to ask the Minister, at what point do these schools or any other buildings get replaced? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Evelyn Storr. I would also like to thank her for all the years that she has been the SAO in Aklavik. I wish her all the best in her new role at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I know it can be a challenge in the small communities to deal with housing.

Has the Minister and the department been working with the communities to ensure we fill those positions in my riding? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to also join my colleagues on this theme day today on population growth initiatives.

As I mentioned earlier this week, we do have to do a lot of things different to try to get our people to stay here in the North. One of the things that we really need to do is find a way to keep our cost of living down in the territory. As any Northerner knows, the cost of living here in the North is very great, and I believe that’s why a lot of people from the South just come up here to work and fly back every two weeks.

Over the last week I believe some of the mining companies...

I am beginning the planning stages for a community tour with Ministers up in my riding. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be available in April to attend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.