Frederick Blake Jr.

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.

Finally, Mr. Chair, thank you. I have some questions for the Minister from a while back, but I just wanted to raise a concern from the communities that long-term care is a huge need in the communities of Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic. I realize that we do have a facility in Inuvik, but as I mentioned a number of times, it only holds a small amount of people, roughly 20 people at the most, and with over 350 people alone in my riding, not to mention Nunakput and the Sahtu – there are members that stay there from those regions – it’s quite clear that that facility can’t take all who...

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.

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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my statement, we, as a government, need to do a better job filling the positions we have available at the moment. I would like to ask the Minister of Human Resources for an update. It’s been brought to my attention since October 31st, we have a number of positions to be filled in my riding. I would like an update on these positions as of today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the mover and seconder for bringing this motion forward, although I will not be supporting it on the basis that two of the signatories that signed on to devolution are within my riding. As anybody who is familiar with negotiations, those are binding agreements. This is before the federal government at the moment and it hasn’t passed yet, but I realize that this is one of the deal breakers. Anyone who is familiar with negotiations knows that there are deal breakers in any agreement, and this is one of them.

As we move closer to devolution, we have just...