Michael Miltenberger

Deferred maintenance for Deninu Ku’e School is one of the things we have on the list for ’09–10.

The intention and plan is to have a document complete by March 2009. We are about halfway through the consultation process. We have been taking the strategy around the North. We have taken it up, for example, to the Sahtu water conference. We have consulted with the aboriginal governments. We have a working group that the Premier committed to forming to provide oversight. That document has been vetted, as well, by some of the best water people in the world in terms of making sure we have all the key elements and principles in our strategy. So that process and strategy is coming along. The...

It’s not on the list for the immediate future, so as we look at all these other documents and we look at requirements and priorities and needs, I would suggest that as we go to the next cycle, that would be the time for that discussion.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just suggest to the Member that his constituents should feel very proud that they’ve made such a significant contribution to a school that’s going to educate their children for decades to come. The community the size of Fort Good Hope now has a fine facility, which, he indicated, is over almost $20 million or thereabouts. It’s a significant investment, and it’s a shared investment now with both the community and the government. I think that’s something to be celebrated.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, this Assembly is very interested and concerned about water. We passed a motion in the 15th Assembly where we are the only jurisdiction in Canada that may consider water a basic human right, so we have met that. We are very concerned about the issue of water in this Assembly. We have come forward with the water strategy that is underway, and it is going to be unique. We have worked with the aboriginal governments to do that as well. We worked at reviving the Mackenzie River Basin Board and trying to put the issue of watershed management on the list to get the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I restrict my reply to the fact that three to four years is fine in the case of the some of the college equipment. Speaking from personal experience, you’re talking probably from decade to decade with some of the old equipment that they have to drive. Once again, I’d have to refer that question to the Minister of Education as to whether they looked at appropriating not quite new equipment as an alternative to brand new. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That document is just getting updated. We expect to have it, hopefully, by Monday, which we will share. It will give you a retrospective. As well, we have the 20 year capital plan.

If I could just reassure the Member, the capital planning process is going to continue. There is opportunity on an ongoing basis to look at and have input into what’s on the capital plan and how it gets on there. It’s not a closed door for the next three years.

Mr. Chairman, they already have fairly antiquated equipment. There’s a need and benefit to having the students learning on equipment that probably industry is going to use. Industry keeps their equipment much more updated and modern than the college can afford. But if the Member wishes more detail, I’d ask the Minister of Education if he could provide more detail. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the Member’s concern. The issue of more demands on our resources is one that we constantly struggle with. The Premier is committed to looking at the 20 year capital plan.

I know the issue, the request the Member is raising in the House, about an expansion of the school there. We also will be pulling together a timeline going back five years and going forward five years so that we can all get a tiered look at how capital has been apportioned out over that period of time. Then we can make informed decisions and adjustments and look at what the requirements...

At this point we do them on an as required basis or where it’s anticipated there may be a problem so that we can clarify whether there is or not.