Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make another statement on the need for new schools in Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake. I want to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for writing to me last week to advise me where the schools stand in the department’s capital needs assessments.
According to the Education, Culture and Employment assessment, work to replace the Charles Yohin School should begin in 2016-17. Work to replace the Charles Tetcho School should begin in 2018-19. While this is good news, I am well aware that identifying needs for new schools and getting them into the capital plan are two different things. I am anxious to move to the next step. Of course, I would like to see work begin on the new schools sooner than the years ECE has identified because I do believe that they are urgent and critical.
I have clearly explained in earlier statements why replacements for these two schools are badly needed.
We won’t achieve the goal of having educated people, as we state over and over again in our Caucus strategic plans, without having suitable learning environments for our young people. The existing buildings are just not adequate. Every year we wait for new schools we risk the future success of our youth. I don’t believe that’s a risk we can afford to make, Mr. Speaker.
It’s good to have this letter in hand, but I want to be sure we are going to be hearing the wonderful and welcomed sound of saws and hammers in Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake within the next three years.
Later on today I will ask questions to the Minister as I continue to press for these needs of these new schools in our communities. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
