Jackson Lafferty

Yes, Mr. Chair, we will provide that detailed information.

We are fully aware of the situation in the E3 School. There’s been discussion between the school itself, administration, the BDEC, Health and Social Services and Public Works to deal with this ongoing issue and to have some resolution for a dental therapy suite. So the program support teacher office has been temporarily allocated for the dental therapist at this point, temporarily. Students are going to Inuvik Hospital for dental therapy appointments. We are fully aware of it and are working towards resolving that issue immediately. Mahsi.

Mahsi. When it comes to bullying, we have to hear from the students, so we are developing an awareness campaign that will give a voice to the students themselves, and also speaking about the truth and the hurt involved when people are bullied. So these are some of the areas that we are moving forward on, on awareness. With respect to dates, I will have to get back to the Member on the exact date that it will be distributed.

Again, we are working with different departments and different organizations, because when we talk about bullying, it is very broad, so we are moving forward on this through...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Yes, that is part of the process that we have to go through, as with any other capital infrastructure process. The two school projects that have been identified as a planning process have been earmarked as a priority by this department and also have been identified as a priority by Cabinet too. It’s a process we have to go through, Mr. Chair.

We will do what we can as a department to push through all those projects that are before us. Some red flagged projects are pushed forward, so hopefully they will be approved at a later time. We want to do this planning process as soon as...

Mahsi. This is, I believe, in my view, a gradual step towards dealing with the bullying issue in our schools. Also, working with the Justice department, because the Justice department works closely with the federal government, whether it be the cyber-bullying, there’s other legislation within the Justice department that we need to work closely with.

At the same time, in 2003 we established the NWT Safe Schools Working Group that consists of DEAs, DECs, NWTTA, MACA, the Human Rights Commission, Health and Social Services and Justice. This is an active committee that is engaged when we talk about...

Mahsi. I would have to get Ms. Allison to just elaborate on details. Again, she’s been involved with this particular school as far as capital planning projects. So I’ll get Ms. Allison to elaborate.

Again, I don’t have a date right now, but it is a planning process that we need to make a move on. We have to work with other departments to move that further along with YK No. 1. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I totally agree with the Member that we need to deliver additional programming into our schools. That’s the way to go. The Trades on Wheels has been very successful in the Beaufort-Delta. It’s a stand-alone facility on wheels. At the same time, future projects, as the Member alluded to, this is something we need to bring to the DECs and DEAs and also the leadership. If that is the wish, we can definitely work with them. At the end of the day, we will come to a partnership-driven approach, such as we did with Trades on Wheels. The reason I am referring to that is it has...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Member for bringing up some of the areas, whether it be a concern or ideas and suggestions. First and foremost is the planning process obviously would consist of community involvement, DEAs and DECs and also leadership. We did receive a correspondence via the MLA from the chief, asking how they can be part of the process. By any means, we want them to be involved because it will have a positive impact into the community and they need to be part of that. So we will be involving the DEAs, DECs, leadership as well.

I agree with the Member that the Sahtu...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct; there is proposed funding for a planning study. That is to deal with the long-term needs of the school. So, it’s been identified in the ‘14-15 Capital Plan. Part of the planning study is to provide a review of the existing school that we’ve been talking about in this House for years, and the needs analysis of the school. Also the operational plan that will be identified to determine the required scope of work that needs to happen. From there we will be pushing through the capital planning process as we move forward. So, those are just some of the...