Debates of March 14, 2007 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions will be for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It is, yet again, about the Yellowknife school problem. Mr. Speaker, my question will be framed around lack of consistency, clarity and practice throughout the Northwest Territories where there is more than one school in that community. Is there any ECE legislative authority, policy or directive that is enforceable which points to a minimum capacity level that community schools must be at, and, if they are not, are they either amalgamated or closed?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no policy. We have never been in a situation before where we had so many vacancies as we do in this situation right now in Yellowknife. So we are responding to a unique circumstance. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Often, when people respond at the spur of the moment on unique circumstances, I think they make a lot of mistakes, Mr. Speaker. That speaks to the frustration of the parents. So speaking to that issue, will the Minister be answering all of those questions posed by the parents so we can get on and find a solution to this issue? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member may have noted my answers to Mr. Ramsay earlier today. This has not been going on for just a week, two weeks, a month, or even a year. It has been going on far longer than that. There have been a number of discussions with the goal of trying to resolve this with this situation. There has not been a collaborative solution yet, so I am trying to force some action with my recommendations with YK 1. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister avoiding my question, which is the fact that the parents posed all of these formal questions to the Minister. Will he be formally responding to them? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have responded to a number of parents. I intend to respond to all parents who contact me. I call tell the Member that most of the parents with whom I have spoken one on one generally I have been able to answer their concerns and their questions. They have often come to a different point of view than when we started the conversation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, Mr. Speaker, I urge the Minister to find an alternative solution because he talks about all of this work he has done for over the last two to three, even almost four years by striking out a report and striking out a committee and getting a mediator for the committee. You can only drag one school board to the committee discussions if they came with the point of view that they were going to get a school or else they didn’t want to participate. Why is the Minister not putting forward the shared solution so this community can more forward? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 35-15(6): Yellowknife School Facilities

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, it seems like the Member has adopted one point of view and that is the only way that things can move because that is the only proposal that I have heard. I still think that we have options that we can consider. I have suggested some in my letter. We have enough space in this community. I am prepared to, if necessary, make sure that we have a broader discussion among stakeholders. I hope that those stakeholders will then talk to the boards. Thank you.