Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my oral questions and Member’s statement I was talking about the two schools in Yellowknife Centre, one would be J.H. Sissons and the other would be Mildred Hall. In my questions to the Minister I was trying to raise the fact that with these schools there are several areas of renovations that need to be tackled and certainly addressed. The Minister, in his response, said that there was an educational review currently underway. I spoke to some of the officials over at YK No. 1 and they’re not aware of this educational review that’s going on at this time. They have not been approached by anyone at this time, and of course, their concern, as well, being is the fact that they own their buildings at this time.
So, Mr. Speaker, is the Minister able to update this House as to what is actually happening with this educational review and will they be contacting the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 here to discuss their educational needs? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in fact, my department met with YK No. 1 on November 26, 2009, to provide an overview of the updates on the Yellowknife Education District No. 1 facilities. So there has been a meeting and now, based out of that, there has been a request, not necessarily from them but the three school boards that we deal with, on a request for an educational overview for the Yellowknife riding.
So, Mr. Speaker, based on that, there is a review of the 10-year education facility plan that’s currently underway. It’s based on looking at the impact of the enrolment data from the past four years and possible future direction on space planning. So that review should be completed by spring 2010. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, in discussing this matter with the chair of the YK No. 1 board, they seem to feel strongly that no one has approached them from the educational review as far as their facilities are concerned. Mr. Speaker, in essence, I’m not trying to create a problem here. I just want to make sure that the educational review facility team actually does get in contact with the YK No. 1 board and does a full, fair and honest assessment of those two facilities I highlighted. Will that happen? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, there has been a meeting already in November 2009, and, yes, we can come back to the YK No. 1 school board again to give them an update of what’s happening and why we’re doing an educational review. So, Mr. Speaker, there is a consult underway reviewing the schools across the Yellowknife area. It’s in the works, but I would commit to the Member that there can be a discussion from our department again, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The time for question has expired; however, I will allow the Member a supplementary question. Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister keeps pointing that they talked to them, and that’s right. I mean, YK No. 1 talks to the deputy minister of Education all the time. And as a matter of fact, I bet they talk about schools and educational programs and infrastructure all the time. So, Mr. Speaker, that’s a fair observation, but we’re really coming down to the nuts and bolts of this, which is the consult and the report and the plan. So ultimately, I want to make sure that they get in contact with the YK No. 1 school board. That’s all I’m asking. That’s all that needs to be done, and I want to make sure it’s done in a timely way that that information can be fairly brought into the equation and consideration when we’re looking at updates. Would the Minister make sure that this consultant who’s doing this review engages the YK No. 1 board in a timely way so that their schools are considered fairly? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is part of the consultation. That’s why we hire a consultant to have an overall review with the school boards in Yellowknife. I’m not sure if I’m getting a clear message to the Member that we’re in the process of reviewing the schools in the Yellowknife area and, certainly, the consultant will be in touch with the school boards to identify what’s required, what’s needed. That’s why it’s called a school review. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’m not sure the Minister is getting my point. The fact is, he’s saying that there’s a review going on and I’ve got a school board that says they haven’t heard from the reviewer. So that’s the only issue at hand here, Mr. Speaker, is the fact that I need to be assured, this House needs to be assured, there needs to be a clear message from the Minister of Education that the consultant will be instructed to make sure that they consult with YK No. 1 in a timely way to make sure their schools that are in desperate need of renovations are considered in this evaluation. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, again, the consultant will gather all the facts from the school boards, so I’m sure there will be a consultation happening with the school board. Mr. Speaker, Yellowknife education facility is under review and it will be completed in the spring of 2010 and, yes, there is consultation happening with the school boards. Mahsi.
