Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Within the last year I raised the subject of the John Tsetso Memorial Library in Fort Simpson a number of times. Since the relocation of the library from the Deh Cho Hall, the community has had its much used facility reduced to a resource centre. In short, there is no library. I spoke about the value of the community’s library as a place to pick up reading materials and for many literacy and educational programs it has offered over the years.
Last month the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jackson Lafferty, and a few days later, the chair, Mr. Tom Beaulieu, and some members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs were visiting Fort Simpson. They saw for themselves how inadequate our library is. The facility is too small and because of foundation issues, it cannot even support the library’s collection of books.
John Tsetso Memorial Library is designated a public library and the residents of Fort Simpson deserve to have it back. Not only that, but a region of our size, about 4,200 residents, should have a regional library located centrally in Fort Simpson. This library would serve the needs of Fort Simpson and outlying communities. Books and programming could be circulated to our smaller communities.
Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be submitting a petition from the residents of the community of Fort Simpson and constituents of Nahendeh, to call upon the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to provide funding towards a new John Tsetso Memorial Library. There was a lot of interest in this petition and also a number of children drew pictures and wrote about how they felt about enjoying the library. I will table these pictures in the House later and send the Minister a copy as well.
Mr. Speaker, the government has made a firm commitment to promoting and fostering literacy. A library that provides a welcoming space and a good selection of books in Fort Simpson will contribute to this literacy. I support a regional library that will provide this valuable service throughout Nahendeh. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
