R.J. Simpson

I will now call the Committee of the Whole to order, and before I ask the wish of committee, I just want to thank all the Pages who have been here this week. Thank you for all your hard work. Mr. Beaulieu, what is the wish of committee?

Now, let's talk jobs. It is what everyone is talking about. How many people will be employed by this institute and, more importantly, how many of those positions will be local in Hay River?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On February 2nd Transport Canada announced that the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium will establish a marine training facility in Hay River through partnership with the GNWT. Apparently, this is part of a three-year $12.6 million federal investment under the Oceans Protection Plan. Mr. Speaker, I usually know what's happening in my backyard, but I haven't received any communication about this initiative. It's news to me. I just learned about it when the Minister of Infrastructure responded to questions about MTS earlier this week. I don't know where this...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like there are a lot of people involved in this. We have Aboriginal groups. We have Education Councils. We have District Education Authorities. We have ECE. It seems like there must be a simpler way, but I guess that's the way it is right now. Most students in Hay River can't take the bus to school because they live too close. Basically, if you live anywhere between the bridge and the "Welcome to Hay River" sign, you can't take the bus, so there are only a handful of students in DJ who actually take the bus, and now, they hear that bus service may end...

The buck has to stop somewhere. As far as I am concerned, it stops here, in the Legislative Assembly, with the Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Ministers of the respective departments. That's why I want to ask the Minister of Education: other than talking to the Education Council, what can be done to expand the course selection at Hay River and other schools across the territory?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am the second-youngest member of this 18th Legislative Assembly, but that is not saying much. In fact, my days of being considered a youth are long gone. However, Mr. Speaker, I was elected to represent all of the constituents of Hay River North, not just those who can vote, so, while I may be old, I cannot afford to be out of touch.

That is why this past Monday, over the lunch hour, I held a constituency meeting at Diamond Jenness Secondary School that was exclusively for students. Fourteen students attended, mostly from grades 8 to 10. I was a little worried that...

I will rise and report progress.

I now call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of committee? Mr. Beaulieu.

I see that there's one innovative solution that the government is undertaking to expand course selection, so that's what I'm looking for, is more innovative solutions like that. Maybe facilitate working together, facilitate the way that the different school boards can work together to pool their resources so they have a critical mass that they can offer more of these course. I'm looking for more solutions.

My next question is that students are concerned about the lack of support for students with special needs. I believe the Hay River Metis Government Council puts in people in the schools, and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I spoke about the constituency meeting I held at Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River. I had a great discussion. I had told the students there that I would bring their questions forward and get some answers for them. I have some questions for one of the other youngsters here in the Ledge, our Minister of Education. I would like to ask the Minister: students at Diamond Jenness are concerned about the lack of courses available to them. They brought up a lack of dash-4 classes, basic courses like core French, and courses that better prepare...