Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke to the proposed demolition of the Learning Centre in Inuvik. I would like to pose my questions today to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. I’d like to ask: what’s the status of the adult Learning Centre right now? When is it slated for demolition?
The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mr. Speaker, there was a petition, as the Member indicated in his Member’s statement, to myself from the students of Inuvik concerned about the closing down of the facility. Currently the status is that the facility is scheduled to close in August 2008. It was under the advisement of the Department of Public Works and Services due to safety concerns. Public Works and Services also manages the risk management and safety programs that assess the condition and safety of all GNWT assets and buildings. Due to that fact we’re in a situation at this point, but we are looking at other options as well.
I’d like to ask the Minister if it was an engineer’s report or a report done in-house as to the safety concerns. If so, would he be willing to share that report with myself?
The safety aspect of it was administered by Public Works and Services. There is a report being done on this particular facility, the building. It is a 1960s building. There are problems with the foundation, the structure itself. Public Works and Services would have the report, and I’m sure the Minister of Public Works and Services is willing to share it with the Member upon request.
I think I heard the Minister state that the report was being done. I’m confused. Is the report being done, or is the report that’s recommended the closure of the Learning Centre for safety reasons already completed?
The report is complete on the building itself.
Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.
Needless to say, Inuvik is becoming quite concerned with the closure and demolition of all our facilities around the community. I’d like to ask the Minister whose responsibility it is to find new facilities for the students that are using this facility right now. What’s to become of them?
Mr. Speaker, it does involve various parties to find the needs of the community, where they should be placed and so forth. We as the GNWT, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, continue to work closely with Public Works and Services on finding solutions to the situation we’re in. We’re also identifying another location — an Environment and Natural Resources office potentially. We are looking at all options, because the time is near. August is coming. We’re doing what we can as the Department of Education to find a suitable location for these students, because we want these students to continue learning. That’s one of our priorities that we’ll continue to push. Mahsi.
The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
