Debates of October 12, 2005 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today my questions are for the Minister of Public Works and Services. We have seen newspaper reports that Samuel Hearne was going to be open later in the month. I want to ask the Minister the question that is on everyone’s mind in Inuvik: When will the school reopen so that teachers and parents can get on with their year? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Roland.

Return To Question 90-15(4): Structural Problems At Samuel Hearne School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the plan for reopening of the Samuel Hearne Secondary High School is for about the middle of December, but our goal is to have the classes back in operation in the high school after the Christmas break. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 90-15(4): Structural Problems At Samuel Hearne School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member’s statement, when foyers collapse and foundations fail, someone has to be held responsible. Would the Minister give parents, students and teachers some reassurance that their school will be safe when it reopens and indicate whether he has or plans to order an internal investigation to find out who is responsible and what needs to be done to prevent failures like this again? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 90-15(4): Structural Problems At Samuel Hearne School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been identified quite some time ago that with the reduction scenarios that the previous governments had gone through and reduced expenditures in certain areas, and the area of the Capital Replacement Program was one of those areas that took a hit. If we did not bring that capital back up, we would indeed find ourselves in problems. The particular facility in Inuvik as well as the other school in Inuvik have been on the capital plan for quite some time and have been bumped for a number of years. As we know, the planning is proceeding with a replacement of SAMS and we are looking at the replacement of the high school, as well.

Mr. Speaker, I guess, ultimately, when it came down to making the decision on the closure of the high school, as I told parents at the public meeting in Inuvik, I would rather be there apologizing for the fact that we were not able to use the facility for a school at this point. I would rather do that than trying to apologize for the loss of a loved one if we found ourselves in another situation. That is why we made the decision not to open that facility. Safety came first. We have been working around the clock, so to speak, to get the issues addressed with and dealt with on the facility itself so that we can have it open. If the facility opens sooner, we will look at trying to get the classes back into the high school.

On the issue of dealing with the Department of Public Works and Services and the work we do and the events around this facility, a seemingly ongoing venture on this facility, I am, as Minister, taking responsibility for that. The decision is made within my department, and I am taking the necessary steps to ensure that the right actions are taken in dealing with all the events that surrounded the decisions and the process that was used where we found ourselves with that facility. Thank you.