Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
I am pleased that my colleagues are speaking about the needs of the small communities today, Mr. Speaker. It is the basic expectation of communities and parents that their children will have a school to go to. While this government has been out building super schools and super bridges, it has not been meeting that very basic expectation in Trout Lake.
As I have already repeated in this House many times, Trout Lake has been without a school since the old Charles Tetcho School burned down many years ago. What was supposed to be a temporary measure holding classes in the recreation centre has turned into something long term and it’s unacceptable, Mr. Speaker.
Once again the community raised this with me as a priority when I visited last month. Like any community, of course, they want their young people to succeed, and for this they need access to good education. Teachers and students are doing their best with what they have, but we are letting them down by not giving them an appropriate living environment; a real school, not just a recreation centre.
No larger community would tolerate this situation. When will this government start paying attention to the needs of our small communities? I feel like a broken record, having raised this so many times, but, unfortunately, the Minister has also been a broken record by saying again and again that we need to have discussions. When do the discussions stop and when do we see some real action, Mr. Speaker?
Enough talking. Let’s get out the hammers and nails and give the children of Trout Lake the school they need and deserve. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
