Thank you, Mr. Chair. I believe the Minister of Finance did send a letter to committee responding to that request. I don’t have the letter in front of me. I kind of blanked on what was in there. Sorry. I am not feeling 100 percent today.
Thank you, Minister. Ms. Green.
Nothing further on this page. Thank you.
Thank you. Next, Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes. There are two line items here about the Stanton Legacy Building. When I go on the Stanton Renewal website, there is absolutely nothing on there about the legacy building. I have asked the Minister before about this. Who looks after the Stanton Renewal website? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is done by a team of multiple departments. I have already indicated to the Member that I have told the department to do some updates. They have indicated that they need to make sure that the information is all right so that it can be put in there in a way that is logical. They have indicated that work is being done. Hopefully, we will see it on the website shortly.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. O'Reilly.
Thanks, Mr. Chair. Yes, it has been, I think, two months since I have raised this with the Minister. I have suggested other changes in the past to the website because that is the place where the public can find out about what is going on.
I know the intention is to sort of have some sort of a campus atmosphere and all of this about that area, but, if there's nothing available to the public other than if they happen to pick up the capital estimates about what's happening with the old building, that's not a very helpful way to do this. I'll take the Minister at his word that those changes are going to get done, and I would look forward to the department working with whoever else they work with to get that website updated more regularly. Thanks, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Next, I have Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Looking at the 162 beds that are going to be made public here by the year 2022, it is all part of good essential planning in your capital direction on planning, also. I'm mindful of that. I'm glad to see that there is a plan to look after our elders. Also, the health centre designated for Tulita, I'm glad to see that's in the books there. It's always been the wishes of the Tulita leadership in working with the Housing Corporation on a senior's home similar to some other communities.
I'll throw this suggestion out to the Minister: if the old health centre could be looked at after the review process on the structural integrity of the building and a cost renovation plan estimate during the site, I'll see whether it could be turned into an elders' or seniors' building if the Minister could work with me on that as time goes on here. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I know the Member is aware of our capital process and how we dispose of assets. When those facilities are empty, they will have to be obviously reviewed, checked, assessed to see if there's any life in those buildings. If there is, then obviously Health and Social Services would have an opportunity to say, "Do we have any use for it, or do we not have any use for it?" At this time for our program areas, we don't have the use for that facility that we have seen. However, that may change. We are always trying to maximize opportunity here.
When it comes to seniors' independent living units, the Housing Corporation has been an incredible partner in putting independent living units for seniors throughout the Northwest Territories. I'm sure that, you know, there's opportunity for conversation between the community, the MLA, and the appropriate Ministers, but we really can't make any assessment until we have a determination on whether that building has got any life in it. That won't be done until we get out of there. Thank you.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. McNeely.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I welcome that opportunity to have future deliberations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Next, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just a few questions here. I know, on the budget, it doesn't show Tsiigehtchic health centre, but I just want to bring awareness to the ongoing issues we have had with our health centre. I'm sure the Minister knows it's been ongoing over the last number of years. It's either the foundation or, you know, we have had major hiccups this spring here with the foundation work, and, you know, there's major infrastructure issues that happened in the building. I know it has been fixed to date, but it seems to be an ongoing issue for that facility. I would like to double check: when is the 20-year plan for replacement for this facility? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, a structural assessment was completed in May of 2018 by a structural engineer, at which time the building did not exhibit any major structural concerns. We were given the go-ahead to move back into the building. The building was declared safe to occupy.
We have had some individuals look at that building. It is in the 20-year needs assessment for replacement, but it doesn't appear in the short-term. I don't know the exact dates where it appears, but it's certainly not in the life of this government.
As another note, we had an opportunity to talk to some of the individuals who did. They said, after we did the fixes at the building, the building is looking to be in quite good condition at this point.
Thank you. Mr. Blake? Nothing further from Mr. Blake. Seeing nothing further from committee, I will call this activity: Health and Social Services, community health programs, infrastructure investments, $54,675,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you. Please return to page 30 for the departmental total. Health and Social Services, total capital estimates, $62,578,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Does committee agree this concludes our consideration of the Department of Health and Social Services?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Thank you to the Minister and to the witnesses. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses from the Chamber.
Committee, we have next agreed to consider the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Minister, you may take your seat at the witness table. Sergeant-at-Arms, you may escort the witnesses into the Chamber. Minister Cochrane, would you please introduce your witnesses to the House.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my right is Ms. Sylvia Haener, who is deputy minister of Education, Culture and Employment. On my left is Laura Gareau, assistant deputy minister of corporate services, Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Committee, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment begins on page 9. As always, we will defer the departmental totals until consideration of the activity summaries, the first of which is found on page 10 with an information item on page 11, culture, heritage and languages. To the activity. Seeing none, I will call this activity. Education, Culture and Employment, culture, heritage and languages, infrastructure investments, $495,000. Does committee agree?
Agreed.
Thank you, committee. Please turn to page 12. Early childhood and school services. There's an information item on page 13 with a project listing. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On page 13, it talks about Charles Yohin School, home economics room. Could the Minister please elaborate further on this project? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister Cochrane.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excuse me if I get the name wrong. The Charles Yohin School is going to have a complete redesign and renovation to the home economics room, including custom millwork and specialized appliances because they don't have the spaces currently. That's the plans. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. When they say "redesign and renovations," is the school classroom actually going to be renovated, or are they looking at adding an additional space to this facility? Thank you.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is not an addition; it is a renovation, a redesigning and renovation of the space that we have. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I thank the Minister for that answer. Could the Minister commit to showing me the design? What I am looking at and what I visualize in the school, I don't know exactly what renovation is going to be happening. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, we commit to providing that to the MLA. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Anything further, Mr. Thompson?
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The next one is Acho Dene School home economics room, again, renovation. Could the Minister expand a little further on this? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are focusing on home economics within this coming fiscal year, so we will be doing the same thing. The home economics room is going to get a complete redesign and renovation, including custom millwork and specialized appliances. The two schools are getting the exact same work. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you. Mr. Thompson.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. There seems to be some difference between the two projects. This one here, I am seeing it includes new lighting and sound system and ventilation. Can the Minister just confirm if that is actually happening in Echo Dene School? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Minister.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, the Echo Dene School will be getting a major renovation of six stations to meet the National Building Code of Canada, as well as to enhance the home economics program offered at the school. Proper lighting will need to be planned and installed, which may require a new ceiling. The current soundproofing and insulation are likely insufficient for the redesigned space, so we will need to redo that. In a building of this age, abatement might be an issue, so we are looking at doing electrical and probably a new ceiling. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Minister. Mr. Thompson.
