Debates of March 1, 2006 (day 39)

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker…(Translation) I spoke on something very important yesterday which was the safety of the children and transporting them to their school. I talked about bussing. (Translation ends)

…from the isolated communities. The words I am sharing today are not my words, Mr. Speaker. These are the words of our respected elders in the communities. They want this territorial government to deal with this public safety that I addressed yesterday and today. The Department of ECE and divisional boards’ responsibility is to ensure the safety of our young school children. They need to go to school safely, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a question to the Minister of ECE is, what measures has the department taken into consideration to ensure bussing for isolated communities such as Wekweeti, Gameti and Whati as this year’s capital projects? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for ECE, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 491-15(4): School Transportation Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has no program for providing capital for buses to DECs. We provide money for transportation as part of the grant that we provide to DECs and agencies like the Tlicho Community Services Agency. It is up to those agencies to determine how transportation is provided. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 491-15(4): School Transportation Services

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister indicated, funding does consist of bussing if need be in the communities. Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to stress that, with the current funding to Tlicho Community Services Agency, it is stretched as it is with no flexibility to contract out or purchase a school bus, Mr. Speaker. There is absolutely no room, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister commit in this House to invest in school transportation as part of the additional funding so there is no impact on the current funding that is geared towards providing core subjects, cultural and language programs and inclusive schooling? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 491-15(4): School Transportation Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the budget that has been considered in this House, there is no money that would be specifically allocated for that purpose. It is entirely up to the Tlicho Community Services Agency to determine if that is one of their priorities. If it is, then it is their responsibility to take the money out of their regular programming and put it into transportation. They have the right and the responsibility to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary To Question 491-15(4): School Transportation Services

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to stress that, with the new information on the decline of caribou herd that we have heard last week and related increase of wolves and grizzlies in the isolated communities in my region, I would like to ask the Minister again if he will be willing to revamp or look into some sort of amendment to supplement the current funding available to the Tlicho Community Services Agency to ensure something as simple as transportation services are available to isolated communities such as Gameti, Wekweeti, and Whati, and the basic need for our safety of our children is met? Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 491-15(4): School Transportation Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If there is a concern for safety for the children in those communities, then it is incumbent on the DEAs and the Tlicho Community Services Agency to deal with that issue. Either they need to work with parents to make sure that somebody is walking with the children to school to make sure that they are safe, or they need to find some way to provide that transportation. But, Mr. Speaker, all of the money that we have within the department for schooling goes to schools. We don’t keep any money available for other special projects. So right now, all of the money is being distributed. The money that has been approved in the budget for the next year is allocated to the DECs. There is no pot of money that I can draw on in order to provide extraordinary services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.