Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on the playground in Fort Liard. The National Playground Code about six to eight years ago came into place. We assessed our schools and replaced what we could. In Fort Liard that remained undone. I’d like to ask the Minister why that one school playground equipment was not replaced.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. That particular school was brought to our attention just in December that their playground needs to possibly be replaced within a few months or a couple years. So those are the discussions that we continue to have with the Dehcho Board of Education, specifically with the superintendent, that has brought this to our attention. The focus is that we’re going through our budget planning process this period, but part of the planning process will be to put this into next year’s budget. Mahsi.
The parents and the teachers are very concerned in Fort Liard. They raised it with me in my December visit. They’re actually so concerned that they’re looking for ways to fundraise to replace the school ground equipment, but it’s our responsibility, Mr. Speaker. The need is immediate. I’d like to ask the Minister what can be done in this coming fiscal year. Can we release some resources so that we can begin the preliminary work or even remove some of this dangerous pressure-treated wood equipment? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, part of the planning process will be to work closely with PWS. It is the responsibly of that department to look at the infrastructure itself, if it needs to be taken out of the ground when it’s thawed out. Those are discussions that we need to continue having along with the Dehcho Education Council, with the superintendent, and keeping the board members informed of the progress being made and also the Member in that respective riding. So we’ll continue to make that progress as we go along. Mahsi.
I’m just trying to get a handle on will the playground equipment be removed this year. Probably the planning process to replace the playground in 2011 sounds good, but am I correct in understanding that they’re looking at removing the playground equipment this fiscal year? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, safety is our first priority so we will definitely look at the playground this summer. Whether to remove that due to safety precautions, we certainly need to discuss that further with PWS. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much. When will the discussions take place and how soon can I know, or even the school in Fort Liard know, about the plans for that playground? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the issue was brought to our attention in December and the discussion is ongoing. We can’t really do anything until it’s thawed. Definitely, we’ll keep the Member informed of our progress to date. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.
