Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’ve often spoken about schools in our small communities and I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, I had raised the issue about the school in Nahanni Butte, this being an older log structure. I’d like to ask the Minister, has he done any work in evaluating and seeing when they’d look at replacing that school in Nahanni Butte. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This is an area that we are closely monitoring, especially with the small community schools. I did instruct my department to seriously look at those communities, whether it be a log structure and the space capacity and having a one class setting with three or four different grades. So those are areas that we are looking into right now to see what can be done. If there’s going to be some changes, then it would be through the capital planning process the following year. So that’s the area that we continue to push. Every year we go through the capital planning process, so that’s an area that we will be looking at. Mahsi.
Thank you very much. I guess when we’re looking at replacing the school, there’s lots to be considered. One of the things that can and should work is attaching a new school to the new community gymnasium. I think that would go a long ways towards supporting our education system and our youth, if we attached a new school to the gymnasium. Will the Minister consider that or involve that in the planning that’s going to start this fall? Thank you.
Mahsi. That is the capital planning process that we need to discuss with the school board and also with the community and my department. Also, with Public Works and Services as we move forward. The capital planning process, there is a protocol that we have to follow and criteria that’s laid out before us, part of the legislation. So, definitely, those are discussions that we need to have, along with other capital projects. Mahsi.
Thank you very much. I know I’ve spoken on this issue a few times in this House. I’d just like to ask the Minister, once again, how much work has been done, or else do we have to start again and then start working with the community and the education authorities on the Nahanni Butte school. Thank you.
Mahsi. Since the flooding, there’s been some work in play and we understand that the school was used for the community as well. We have to utilize the school for the students. So we’ll do what we can to have the facility in the best shape we possibly can for the community. Those are the discussions that we need to have for the capital planning process. If we need to identify funding, then we’ll be putting that forward as part of the process of capital planning and then the decision will be made, pending that time. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to invite the Minister over to the community of Nahanni Butte. I think we’re targeting a June date and I’d like to ask the Minister to come over and look at the school himself, and even come and speak to the students at that time as well. Thank you.
Mahsi. I want to just highlight some of the work that has been earmarked as a scope of work is to look at the washroom fixtures, repairing and painting drywall and different work that has been highlighted. Yes, I’ve already indicated that I’ll be visiting the Member’s riding. There’s an invitation out, so in June, by all means, we’ll be visiting. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
