Jackson Lafferty

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...

Yes, Mr. Chair. We will provide that additional detailed information. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. With me to my left is Dana Heide, associate deputy minister with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment; and also, to my right is Tammy Allison, facility planning consultant within ECE.

We are working very closely with Public Works and Services and Health and Social Services because dental would fall under Health and Social Services laws. So we have to meet the standards when we start renovating that area, so we have to make sure that it does meet the standards the Member is referring to. That’s a good point, so we will definitely take that into consideration. The Minister of Health is here as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, by all means, we need to visit the communities, especially in the Sahtu region. I believe we are working with the Member’s office to find a date that is suitable for all of us. We need to have our staff go in there. I would like to meet with the committee, as well, the regional training committee, what they’ve been working on, the training plans and so forth. I am looking forward to the trip. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, the daycare establishment and other facilities will be required down the road because there will be a boom in the Sahtu region with all the employment opportunities, training and business opportunities. Those factors will be taken into account when we talk about the overall training plan and what it will entail. It would have a rippling effect in the community.

At the same time, when we talk about the daycares and the workers, obviously they will be busy at their work and the kids will need to be looked after. Similar to what we did in Inuvik with the Children First Society, those...

Mr. Speaker, the department continues to improve income security programs and services based on a report from the Auditor General in March 2013. We received valuable feedback from the Standing Committee on Government Operations in June 2013. As we move forward with effective, efficient government, client service is at the forefront of our minds.

Mr. Speaker, to date the department has made a number of improvements based on the Auditor General’s report, recommendations from standing committee, and on actions identified and planned through our own review.

We have improved training and...

Mr. Speaker, I totally agree with the Member that we must encourage the individuals to be employed, either to be trained or part of business contracts. Based on that, what the Member is referring to is having a plan in place where it would be capturing the daycare establishment. Again, those are areas that we need to push forward.

With our government here, we have been talking about the Sahtu region and other regions that are actively exploring opportunities. The Sahtu region is one of the prime examples, along with the Deh Cho and Gwich’in areas. We will expedite this process. We are hoping...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There are tons of opportunities that are happening in the Sahtu region. We are closely monitoring that and working closely with the regional training committee that is established, consisting of Aboriginal governments and other stakeholders, in partnership with industry as well. We need to identify what the needs of the community are, and based on that, we need to develop plans to move forward. We will be working closely with the MLA and also the community organizations to move that forward. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.