Debates of June 6, 2006 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak today about the situations surrounding the overcrowded conditions at Catholic schools in Yellowknife. As you might recall, Mr. Speaker, at the end of the February session we agreed, very reluctantly on my part, to give the Yellowknife Education Facilities Review Committee a chance to conclude its work, as long as the Minister agreed to make some decisions before the June session. With two days of session left to go, we are not any further ahead than we were. As I expected, and any reasonable person looking at the situation should have expected, the committee has not been able to reach a decision about what to do about the imbalance of numbers at the schools. One thing the committee has agreed on is there is only one person who has any legal power and obligation to resolve this issue and that is the Minister of ECE.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say how troubled I am that even in my most recent conversation with the Minister, he continues to show a complete lack of understanding on exactly what his powers and authorities are on this issue. He continues to see himself as a bystander who is watching the procession go by or, at the very least, he wants someone else to make the decision for him or make the whole mess just go away. He continues to show no capacity whatsoever to see the consequence of his inaction or the ability to foresee, prepare or otherwise deal with the aftermath of his inaction and lack of leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you I have attended a number of public meetings on this issue. I have to commend the trustees of both school boards and teachers, parents and students for valiantly trying to see their way out of this. During no time did the Minister ever show a plan of action, a vision or a roadmap on how we are all supposed to get out of this mess he has created. He could not bring himself to present a plan that could work for both parties, which I believe is possible if he would just put his mind to it, and effort, and show some leadership.

Mr. Speaker, the result of this inaction is that the students, teachers and trustees of both school boards are placed in an enormously difficult position very unfairly and the ensuing discussions threaten to divide our school communities unnecessarily. We might just end up with a lawsuit on our hands. This all goes to show you, Mr. Speaker, how much it costs the government and taxpayers when a person fails to do his job. All I can say is good luck to him, because the time is running out for him to dither any longer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause