Debates of October 13, 2005 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I spoke in my Member’s statement about the Norman Wells Aurora College, the community learning centre and about the facility that is in Norman Wells. Can the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment tell me if there are any future plans to relocate the Norman Wells Community Learning Centre to a more suitable location in the town of Norman Wells? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had hoped to be able to bring this project forward in this current year because I visited the learning centre and would agree with the Member that it is far from ideal. It does need to be replaced. Unfortunately, given the other pressures that we had with schools in the Northwest Territories, we ran up to the limit of the capital plan before that project could be included. So it will be one that I am hoping will come forward in the very near future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the Minister is going to bat for the town of Norman Wells on this facility here. However, can the Minister tell me whether this tiny, run-down ATCO trailer in Norman Wells is a typical community learning centre across the Northwest Territories, or is it standing out as a sore thumb in terms of the facilities that the department owns in Education? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am not aware of another facility that is in as much need of replacement as the learning centre in Norman Wells when it comes to Aurora College facilities.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again, the Minister is very accurate on his observation of our facility in Norman Wells in terms of the Aurora College. I would like to ask the Minister if he would be committed to meeting with possibly the Town of Norman Wells or the Aurora College authorities to possibly look at alternative locations for this centre and also see what they could come up with. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am quite prepared to work with the Aurora College Board of Governors and see what we can do in terms of replacing the facility in Norman Wells. I would be prepared to meet with the Town and other groups, but we need to make sure that we can find the money in the capital plan. That is my first goal: to try and move that forward. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the town of Norman Wells in the Sahtu region, there is every oil and gas activity. I just can’t see that this government is putting a centre like this that we desperately need on the back burner of the capital plan. Would the Minister again assure the people of Norman Wells that this learning centre in Norman Wells gets high priority in terms of putting it back on the capital plan before any more beautiful new buildings like the one building in Inuvik are built? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 101-15(4): Norman Wells Community Learning Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I have told the Member, I am quite prepared to work with the college board of governors and the community to look at where we can fit the facility in Norman Wells into the capital plan. I do agree that we need to look at it as an urgent need for Norman Wells. That facility really needs some attention. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.