Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I did meet with the board chair and the president and I did share some of the concerns that were brought to my attention. Part of the reason why this rate is going up is due to the fact that their investment at the national stage has had a downturn in investment in the environment, and also the rising cost of health care across Canada. Given that there have been subsidies given to these businesses across the Northwest Territories for the last 10 years, it has basically taken back the subsidy and put that into an increase in assessment rates. So, swapping that. That was my...

When this was first introduced for 2013, the increase of 16 percent, I did indicate to the president and the chair that they need to work closely with even the smallest contractor on what the implications would be. What kind of subsidy are we providing? Is it in replacement of a subsidy to increase the assessment rates? It was assured to me that it was in replacement. I told them that we need to have a long-term mechanism to highlight the implications and potential impacts. I will be sharing that information with the Members once it is available to me by WSCC.

Mr. Speaker, I got the facts here from WSCC and it is in between. It’s not 6 percent or what the Member is alluding to; it is an increase in 2013 of 16 percent. That’s the number I have from WSCC, in replacement of the subsidy that’s been provided over the last 10 years.

The information that I did receive – and I will be going back to WSCC for another follow-up meeting, because whenever a concern has been addressed by the Members and the general public, I usually meet with the chair and the president.

With respect to this increase in assessment rates for 2013 of 16 percent, this has been in the subsidy area. A subsidy has been provided for the last 10 years and now WSCC has taken that back. In return is an increase in assessment rates. That information was brought to my attention. It is the subsidy that has been provided is now taken back by WSCC due to the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Aurora College students who are here with us today. They are second year social work students in the Social Work Program. They are attending on behalf of their Social Work 469 Canadian Social Policy class. They are Kelly Bothamley and Jacq Brasseur. I’d also like to recognize Jane Arychuk, the interim president of the college.

…recognized by our department, by our government. We are providing funding for the organization, the school board, to provide that programming. We will continue to do that until eventually there will be a new school there. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. There has been a lot of work in the Yellowknife Prince of Wales Museum. There’s been a tender for kitchen work that has been advertised and a revised schedule for construction to start in November and to be completed by March 2013. As the Member indicated, there is construction happening with the chimney repair starting in mid-September that should be completed by the end of October. There have been little hiccups that have been encountered, but that have been resolved as well.

With respect to the asbestos material, that’s been clearly resolved as well. It has been in the...

Mr. Speaker, replacing schools in the communities would have to be based on the standards and criteria that we follow, the Government of the Northwest Territories standards that we follow. What we have before us is the classroom size, the 33 students that can be allowed in the schools. Earlier the Member indicated 19. It is a 61, a 60 percent margin right now. If it becomes a major issue where we have 30 students in the classroom, then it is a major crisis, major issue that we need to deal with. At this point the capacity is not at the maximum, so based on that, we have to follow the standards...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. As I stated earlier, we did extend that lease agreement this fall for up to three years, and potentially up to five years, depending on the progress that we’re making. We’re working closely with Public Works and Services and also private contractors out there. We’re looking at all options, how we can build this facility and that is the discussions that we’ve been having. So we have extended the lease up to five years. Three years first and then we can extend it for another two years if we need more time. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I would just like to say thank you to the Member for his support. This has been a huge undertaking by the community of Inuvik and the town council. So we have worked with them and we will continue to work with other communities as well. Mahsi.