Debates of October 21, 2005 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to continue with my questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, regarding the Colville Lake school. As you are well aware, kindergarten to Grade 12 are all taught in one room. In desperation for quiet time, one teacher now teaches in the boot room, which is adjacent to the honey bucket and equipment room. Mr. Speaker, building codes may be violated in terms of the limited capacity and having 41 people in the school. I am not sure if the fire marshal has given any kind of indication to the Department of Education on a honey bucket being in that facility.

What can this government tell the parents or people in Colville Lake, that they can get some comfort in dealing with this disturbing situation that they have in Colville Lake right now? Thank you.

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

Return To Question 218-15(4): Colville Lake School

I am aware of the community’s interest. I have been in the community. I have seen the school. I have received a letter, as the Member pointed out, from the chair of the divisional education council, on the issue. We are prepared to have staff visit the community to discuss the issues with the community, and to move as quickly as we can to provide the additional space that we have in our capital plan. Having said that, I believe that there is not an issue around public safety with the facility if it’s being used as it was intended to be used. Thank you.

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

Supplementary To Question 218-15(4): Colville Lake School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe if the Minister sat down with the people in Colville Lake, we would beg to differ on the issue of public safety and the use of that school. Mr. Speaker, the chair of the Sahtu Divisional Education Council wrote a strong letter regarding the school in Colville Lake and the lack of proper facilities to have a proper learning environment. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the Minister in terms of his strong advocacy of having graduates in the communities. The Minister is making the commitment to visit Colville Lake. Can he visit by the end of this month? This is an emergency situation. Can we get some strong commitments today, in this House, to let the people in Colville Lake know that the situation is being taken care of? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 218-15(4): Colville Lake School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to have somebody from the department visit the community and the school within 30 days.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The time for question period has expired; however, I will allow the Member a short supplementary. Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 218-15(4): Colville Lake School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the commitment from the Minister. Within these 30 days, the people in Colville Lake will still have the same situation. What can we tell the people of Colville Lake that have the overcrowding, the honey bucket, the boot room, that they can have some other facilities to have proper educational training? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 218-15(4): Colville Lake School

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In advance of us having somebody there, I can’t make any other commitments. We will ensure that we are dealing with the situation if there is a significant problem. I would also mention that my reading of the letter from the chair of the DEC is that they want to make sure that this project doesn’t fall down the list of urgent projects again. It would be my goal to make sure that that doesn’t happen, too. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.