Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This particular piece of work has been an ongoing discussion for a number of years now. It has been brought up in this House as well. As you know, the way things are going with our economy, this could be a $60 million or $70 million infrastructure. We need to start talking about that as part of our capital project for the next few years. We are also talking about potential partners out there that we are exploring options. We’ve been approached about lease-buyback and various options that various organizations have offered. Those are just some of the discussions we are having...

Mr. Chair, yes, the museum area is based on an application basis. So the quickest answer would be yes. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This particular discussion that the Member is referring to is small capital projects. They could be part of the discussions we will continue to have with the college. The college usually identifies minor or major repairs to the facility. We realize that the parking area is of concern for students. So those are discussions we will have with the college. We will be meeting with the college board of governors within a month, I believe. This discussion we’ll be having with them as well. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

We’ve been to a number of small, isolated community schools and we’ve identified some needs in the schools. We’ve been to the Sahtu and Colville. We’ve toured a school as well, a small school. So there is a need for some upgrades that have been identified by the principal and the school boards.

This is the type of discussion that we continue to have at the chairs meeting that’s slated for the end of next month. Most of the discussion that the Member is alluding to is also being addressed at that level. The CTS is an area that we continue to improve into the schools, based on application from...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have with me Mr. Dan Daniels, deputy minister of ECE. Mahsi.

Mr. Chairman, the thing we are doing at $140,000 has been identified to do a study plan, because what we have identified here with the consultant was they did their report and the report identified related renovations to an existing building, a high school entrance, an addition to a stand free shop facility and provision for cold storage. We need to do more planning study within the school. I know the Member has raised this issue in the House. We want to have a solid case that we can bring forward as part of our capital plan projects for next year. That is our overall plan. That is part of the...

Yes, Mr. Speaker, yes. ECE is already in the process of, again, developing the Labour Market Development Framework. That is the comprehensive work that we’ve been engaged in, and I encourage the Member to provide feedback. We will also provide feedback to the Member on our consultations with the stakeholders.

I would like to thank the Member and also the Members for their valuable contributions towards this important document and will continue to have ongoing discussion with the stakeholders.

The way the process works is that usually the school boards provide us applications on their needs. If CTS is required, or for upgrade, then there is funding available for that. I believe it’s upwards of $400,000. Those are numbers that we work with. It’s all based on the application from the school boards on their needs.

Mr. Speaker, we currently provide, through ECE, a number of programs into the smaller communities, the isolated communities, so they can participate in the labour market in the Northwest Territories. We also are currently working on the Labour Market Development Framework that also involves consultation with the communities. This framework will help us to adapt to the new emergent economic and labour force challenges and opportunities. What the Member is referring to will be addressed in the framework itself, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

The current and existing daycares and child care facilities are run by not-for-profit organizations or private sectors. So we don’t own those buildings. That’s part of the reason why we haven’t gotten into capital projects for that specific area. We’ve made some changes to our programming. It does reflect on some of the mortgage payments. Just thinking or changing our policies to reflect on the cost of operating, we do have some or have made some changes at that level when it comes to O and M and try and be creative and innovative. There have been some changes on the mortgage payment for...