Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask some questions with regard to my Member’s statement and the deficiencies at the Nahanni Butte gymnasium. I would like to ask questions of the Minister of Public Works and Services.
The deficiencies came to light some time in about May or March. Just after the spring thaw, the building started experiencing problems, Mr. Speaker. The community actually waited throughout the summer for the contractor to return and they had not. So on my most recent visit about three weeks ago to Nahanni Butte, they were wondering when the deficiencies were going to get addressed and when this company was going to return. So I’d like to ask the Minister of Public Works and Services, what is the plan for correcting the deficiencies at the Nahanni Butte gymnasium? Thank you
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Michael McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The quick answer, I guess, is that most of the deficiencies have been addressed. The floor is something we are working to expedite the repairs to. The material is on order. We have a contractor that’s going to be coming to the community and we expect it all to be completed by the end of November. Thank you.
One of the other issues that the community had raised, of course, is their concern that the warranty period is coming soon for the Nahanni Butte gymnasium. Has there been a final inspection or is there going to be a warranty inspection for deficiencies done on the Nahanni Butte gym? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the work that was done was under, as the Member indicated, warranty. There are some deficiencies that have been addressed and there are going to be more that are going to be required. They are going to all be covered through the warranty period. Notification has been provided to the subcontractors of the contractors that were involved and we’re dealing with the issue. Thank you.
So from our exchange, I’m given to understand that all the deficiencies should be completed within the next couple of months, by December. Is that the time frame that the Minister is giving me? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the deficiencies are going to be all completed by the end of November. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly like to see that done by that time, because the community is certainly looking forward to having a full opening ceremony for the building. If we can do it by December, I’d be pleased to see that; even January, Mr. Speaker. But I think the whole thing is our government has to take the time to correct the deficiencies in that building. So once again, I’d like to ask the Minister that we must get the contractor to complete these deficiencies. Thank you.
I’ll certainly convey that to our officials, that this building better be done by the end of November. I should point out, though, the building is still usable and the community certainly can take advantage of it. We are very aware that they were very frustrated with some of the issues that came forward, but we’re working very hard to get it all addressed, for the most part. Except for the floor, I think everything’s done and we will ensure that it’s completed by the end of November. We will inform the Member that we want to move forward and have an official opening at some point. We already deferred it on several occasions, so we’d like to see that happen also. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
