My question is for the Minister Responsible for Public Works and Services.
There was a technical review done on the Diamond Jenness Secondary School quite a number of years ago which listed items of priority. Code requirements were one of the areas that were listed. Areas of life safety and health were listed separately.
It would appear that for quite some time, the department, through their assessment of this building, was aware that there was asbestos on heating pipes in this building.
Under “Code-required items, if renovation planned, not complete” was:
“Remove asbestos from heating system, piping elbows, and investigate pipe elbows in crawlspace for asbestos. Present asbestos within the facility is non-friable, is encapsulated, identified by signs, and logged in log book. No immediate action required as it is not hazardous to health as long as it is not disturbed.”
I believe that the pipes and the elbows in question where the insulation containing asbestos was compromised were actually covered with duct tape, which apparently is not an acceptable practice.
This situation in the Diamond Jenness School has existed for some time, and it goes to the reason why a renovation retrofit should have been done a long time ago. Asbestos in buildings is a very sensitive issue. It has a long history of information about health risks.
I'd like to know from the Minister why this specific item was never completed, based on previous reports, which brings us to today’s situation where the air handling being fed through the whole building has possibly come in contact with these corroded asbestos-coated pipes?
The Member is correct that there is a significant amount of upgrading and retrofit that's required in the school. Our report — I believe we're looking at the same report — confirms that. That information has been provided to the Department of Health.
In this case, we've had a situation where some material fell off the heating pipes. We haven't confirmed if it is asbestos as of yet. However, we have taken the precaution of having air quality testing done. We've taken the material and sent it south, and we're waiting for those results. We suspect that the material may contain some asbestos, but we have yet to confirm that.
Mr. Speaker, right now, the school has been closed. I anticipate that if no asbestos of significant amount is found, the school may reopen as soon as Friday. If that is not the case, we have a big problem on our hands.
I’d like to ask the Minister what the chances are of expediting the retrofit to this school at this time.
Mr. Speaker, our job is to do the evaluation and take an assessment of the condition of the school. We have done that. We’ve shared that with the principal and the MLAs. We’ve also forwarded it to the Department of Education. They are making an assessment and will make the decision to bring it forward.
The time for question period has expired. However, I will allow the Member a supplementary question.
Mr. Speaker, the removal of the asbestos from the heating pipes would be a very major undertaking in the school. Many other things need to be addressed in the school besides this item.
Would it be possible to expedite or advance or move this work on the Diamond Jenness School forward, so that in the scenario of upheaval anyway, while the students are going to be removed from the school…? If they have to take the asbestos insulation off the pipes, it’s going to take some significant time and effort, and the students won’t be allowed to be there.
I just want to know, in the interests of addressing this and many other things, what kind of a time frame are we looking at for a contract for the rest of it?
It may be beyond the Minister’s jurisdiction. However, I’ll allow the Minister to respond.
The decision will be made by the Department of Education whether to bring it forward. Mr. Speaker, the time frame will be revolving around the capital planning process and when the decisions are made there. That’s the process we have to follow.
Mr. Speaker, in the capital planning process, one of the five criteria that will give priority to projects is protection of people — it’s number one. For the benefit of the people who live in Hay River and who use the school, whose students attend there, I would like the Minister to confirm that the protection of people will be given the highest priority, given the scenario that currently exists.
Mr. Speaker, I believe we’ve already done that. We’ve taken the review from our staff and all the technical evaluation that was required and made note of where our concerns were. We have forwarded and are recommending to the department that they seriously come forward with a retrofit for this facility. It is 34 years old and is due for a serious upgrade to remove some of these areas of concern that the parents have and that their children may be facing.
