Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, a follow-up from my Member’s statement.
I’d like to ask the Minister, is the Minister in support of preventative safety measures to protect school children from dangerous situations? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. Totally I am in support of students as first priority when it comes to safety. These are some of the discussions that have been brought to our attention from Moose Kerr School. My department is working very closely with Public Works and Services, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council and also Moose Kerr school administrators and staff to investigate the circulation of the problem, which has become an issue since the Stanton store has been open for business. Those are some of the areas in discussion with those agencies and we will continue to find solutions for that. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
The Minister answered the first part of my two-part question. Will the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment commit to reviewing this unsafe situation at Moose Kerr School and will he ensure that a parking lot gets built? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
We are working diligently with various agencies like education councils, the school and Public Works and Services. Solutions to this problem are being considered and recommendations will be made to the Hamlet of Aklavik. The GNWT will participate in finding solutions that will be in the best interest of safety for the students and the public at large. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Until a parking lot is in place for the school in Aklavik, will the Minister work with the stakeholders in the Beaufort-Delta Education Council and the Aklavik District Education Authority to enhance safety measures for students at Moose Kerr School as an interim measure? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Those are targeted discussions that we are currently having with the various agencies, as I highlighted earlier, to deal with the measures in the communities, especially with the Hamlet of Aklavik. Recommendations and solutions will be brought to the Hamlet of Aklavik and we’ll work on those solutions. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Blake.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. My final question for the Minister is: When can the residents of Aklavik see a parking lot built for the school in Aklavik? Thank you, Madam Speaker.
These are the discussions that we need to have with the community of Aklavik and the Beaufort-Delta Education Council and Public Works and Services as we move forward. These are the discussions we need to have about the needs of the community and also the school, but number one will be the safety of our students and the public safety. So, I will be keeping the Member informed of our progress. Mahsi, Madam Speaker.
Thank you, Minister Lafferty. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
