Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, the Department of Public Works and Services is proceeding with the delivery of the combined schools project for the replacement of the Samuel Hearne Secondary School and Sir Alexander Mackenzie School in Inuvik. This combined facility is one of our largest building projects in the history of our government and will support this Assembly’s goal of healthy, educated Northerners.
Mr. Speaker, it’s only been 30 months since the start of construction of the Inuvik Schools Project and it’s already over 66 percent complete. As a result, I can inform Members today that the general contractor for this project has advised the department that this state-of-the-art facility could be open to students in the community of Inuvik in the fall of 2012. Mr. Speaker, this is a full school year earlier than originally planned.
The progress we see today is an example of what northern contractors, engineers, architects, tradespeople, business and government departments can achieve through working together.
This modern facility will accommodate up to 1,050 students from kindergarten to grade 12 in 54 teaching spaces. It will replace two schools that have reached the end of their service life. The completion of this new facility will help address a portion of the GNWT’s deferred maintenance deficit.
Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik Schools Project is progressing on budget and is providing significant economic opportunities for northern and for local businesses. To date, over 74 percent of the total expenditures for goods and services has been to northern contractors and suppliers, with 51 percent of total spending going to local companies as listed by the government’s Business Incentive Policy. Approximately 34 northern businesses have been involved with the project, with 22 of these businesses listed as locally owned.
Northern workers are also benefiting substantially from this project, with 53 percent of the workforce hired being northern and 46 percent hired being local.
Although the project’s delivery is accelerated, we’re diligently ensuring that it’s being constructed to the highest standards of quality and workmanship. This includes making sure that we deliver this government’s alternate energy efficiency priorities. Recent independent testing analysis confirmed our efforts, Mr. Speaker, as the Inuvik schools building is projected to be 56 percent more energy efficient than the model National Energy Building Code’s reference standard. Building projects to this high standard not only helps manage the energy costs of GNWT facilities but further advances our government’s greenhouse gas emission goals.
Mr. Speaker, improving the GNWT’s approach to support capital has been one of our achievements under the Refocusing Government Strategic Initiative. The Inuvik Schools Project is an example of how we can better deliver capital infrastructure projects that benefit our workforce and our economy. I look forward to the ongoing progress of this project in the coming year and hope to see its achievements applied to other projects as we continue with our vision of Northerners Working Together. Mahsi. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
