Jackson Lafferty

Mr. Speaker, I have met with the commissioner of the RCMP and also just last week with the deputy commissioner. I did stress to them the urgency of having to deal with the backup policy — having a special constable in the community. At that time the deputy commissioner did indicate that in early spring they will probably share some announcement. Right now they are working on the job descriptions and the length of time of the training that needs to take place. There are many elements of training to become a special constable. They will be constables similar to the RCMP but without any...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Yes, we are dealing with 20 year old equipment or 20 plus, and I do believe there’s been some discussion on the purchasing of new and also used — just the recent ones — but that information I need to get from my department. I don’t have it right before me at this time. Mahsi.

We can certainly provide the information we have within my department of Education, Culture and Employment. I did talk about the inventory we have on hand and the number of vacant units that may be available.

I need to continue to work with Minister McLeod, the Housing Minister, on this particular item as well, because they’re the ones that have all the inventories of the units at the community level. We’ll provide that to the Member and also keep the Member informed of what’s happening in the community of Aklavik and also Members in the isolated communities. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Certainly, the Minister is correct about those. Of the equipment that we have currently, some are over 20 years old, and some are breaking down on us. Also, it’s not compatible for training those individuals and going out to a mine site, because they have high tech, more modern equipment. We have an older version. That was the purpose of replacing that equipment. We need to continue with delivering the training program at the campus. If we don’t invest in this equipment, it will be impossible to have the course delivered. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, within our department we’ve done some overall inventory of the housing units that are available in the 33 communities we serve. We do have that information. Also, for this year with the teachers, the majority have found suitable housing units to stay in.

But the Member is right. We need to plan now for next year and the following years on how we can mitigate these issues or challenges we’re faced with. It’s not only us; it’s throughout Canada as well, but throughout the North especially.

This is one of the priorities we’ve identified. We’ve had several meetings on this...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. That will be taken into consideration. They’re consulting with various groups within the school. I’ll make the effort to dig up some more information in that area and share it with the Member. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I can certainly say yes to working with the Member and the Members on the other side. I am willing to work with my department and bring forward what we have to date and share it with the committee. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Certainly, that consultation had covered those people who are working within the school. The Member asked for the terms of reference. I can share what I can share from my department on moving forward with the consultant. My understanding is that those individuals or groups that are within the school have been consulted, but I will double-check with my department if that’s an avenue the consultant initiated. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, as I stated, I need to sit down with my department to find out where things are at. I can’t really give a specific time as to when there are going to be changes, because I need to present to the committee as well if there are going to be proposed changes.

With any proposed changes there are always cost factors as well. We need to identify how much it will cost us to increase the minimum wage and put that forward, whether it be to the committee or the Cabinet. That is the work we need to undertake. I’m willing to do that with my department, to look into that further and see where...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. That particular school with the proposed addition equals…. There’s been a discussion from my department with the federal government, with Canadian Heritage, on the second phase. As you know, there’s been a federal election, so we’re going to continue on with our discussions with the appropriate department within Canadian Heritage. There’s a partnership agreement that needs to take place with this particular school, because there have been agreements in place for the first phase. We’re currently waiting on the federal government to come into play, and then we’ll certainly make...