Jackson Lafferty

That provision would fall under the local school board and the divisional education council. We provide funding to them and they disperse the funding through their priorities. The decision lies with the local school board. If they feel there should be a need for a half-time or full-time position over the summer, it’s at their discretion to allow that to happen. We’ll continue to work with the school boards.

We do have regional representatives in each region that can definitely work with the community leadership. If they want to pursue certain projects or capitals in the region, we are in support of that, having our representative there.

We need to start planning for next year. What are the essential needs in the regions and communities? As the Member alluded to, what is the process? The process will be to sit down with the leadership and if it needs the involvement of the school boards, then they are there as well. ECE is represented from the region and my department is willing to work with that...

When the request came in from MLA Menicoche on concerns of the playground, we expeditiously followed up with PWS and had resources, staff members go into the community and clean up that area, along with the assistance of the school as well. There has been community contribution, as well, from the parents, which was greatly valued. At the same time, this issue that came up before, the community can play an important role in preventing vandalism and also littering issues in the community. We are working with PWS and my department with the schools to put up some cameras and fencing along that...

All I can say is this is an area of high interest for us as a department, especially with a lease that is coming up and due. We have had some discussions with the federal government and will definitely push with our existing current infrastructure right now, the pressing need. Like I say, we will continue with pressing the federal government. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some of the students that are here for the Aurora College Community Wellness Program. I’ll just highlight their names: Sharon Hopf, Yellowknife; Jennifer Jonasson, Lutselk'e; Gloria Hardisty, Wrigley; Trudy Kochon, Colville Lake; Jessica Field, Fort Providence; Gladys Edwards, Aklavik; Clara Sabourin, Hay River Reserve; Charlene Blake, Tsiigehtchic; Karen McLeod, Fort Liard; Lisa Judas, Wekweeti; Donald Yukon, Deline; Maria McSwain, Fort McPherson; and also their instructor, Carol Gregor, are here with us. Welcome. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. This particular discussion that we have been having about the university of the North, I have met with the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Strahl, when he was still the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister at that time, and discussed the possibility of having a university bricks and mortar, but at the same time they want to expand on our existing campuses as opposed to bricks and mortar.

There was a recent announcement from the Prime Minister, or a statement on reintroducing discussion on the university of the North, so we are trying to get...

Yes, this will likely be an item for discussions, because we are planning for next year. I am meeting with the chairs -- that includes Aurora College -- at the end of next month. We are discussing various areas of programming and also capital infrastructure. There are three parking stalls slated for students at the Aurora College. It hasn’t been brought to my attention specifically, but the Member is alluding to that, so we can definitely discuss this area. Mahsi.

Mr. Chair, the quickest answer would be they have all the chances if the school board identifies them as a priority. Again, it’s the school board that makes the decision, because they are the expertise when it comes to the schools in their region. We can’t go into a community and say this is what you should have. Most of our discussion is from the school board level, from the community level. They provide us guidance and advice and we base it on that with our capital infrastructure and others, along with the Members providing us some suggestions. But it does come from the school board, because...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. This particular plan has been completed in May that deals with the Yellowknife facilities. Part of the reason why it wasn’t, as the Member alluded to, part of this capital planning project that is before us today is that we wanted to consider all options that were before us to consider as we move forward. At that time it was still in the works concerning those options. But now we have those plans in place and this will definitely be part of next year’s capital planning process.

We talk about the facilities in Yellowknife and they have been highlighted. The college that the...

Mr. Chairman, if Sachs needs some sort of renovation, then items should be also discussed if we want to add that as a capital project for next year or the following year. We know that the Tuk school is up for the planning study. We wanted to identify funding because this has been addressed in the House. So it is in the works, Mr. Chair, and we want to make some changes as well; as the Member indicated, a proper school. We definitely want to have that and, of course, we want to have our community members attend school in the community. That’s the overall goal, so we will continue to strive for...