Debates of October 30, 2006 (day 18)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member’s statement I spoke to the need for an early childhood learning centre in Inuvik. I say need, Mr. Speaker. It’s not a want, it’s a need. There is a difference. This is an issue that’s specific to Inuvik at this particular moment because we have a new school that’s going up, but this may be an issue that’s specific to the other communities when their turn comes for a new school or renovations. I’d like to ask the Minister of ECE if his department has had discussions with Public Works, and in this case the new Minister; and, no, Novel won’t do. I wonder if he can have discussions with the Minister of Public Works about the feasibility of adding the childhood learning centre into the construction of the new school in Inuvik. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Return To Question 224-15(5): Infrastructure Requirements Of The Inuvik Children First Society

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that it makes tremendous good sense to have childcare centres in schools. It’s something that I think in the long run we need to try and move towards. That said, I think Members around this table know that we are hard pressed even to live up to the requirements in our current capital plan. We have schools that have to be replaced because their foundations are in trouble. We have other capital programs that we can’t deliver on. It’s not a question of talking to the Minister responsible for Public Works. We need to find -- and it comes back to what I was saying to Mr. Ramsay -- we need to get resource revenue sharing. We need to get a share of the wealth that leaves our territory on a daily basis in order to have adequate funds to be able to make some of these wise choices ourselves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 224-15(5): Infrastructure Requirements Of The Inuvik Children First Society

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I totally agree with the Minister that this is another good argument for getting resource royalty, but that’s something that’s still in the works and this is something that we need to do right away. My colleague from Kam Lake spoke to $32 million going into corrections, $4.5 million into childcare. I mean, there’s something wrong with this picture, Mr. Speaker. Why, besides money, is this government so reluctant to consider putting the childhood development centre as part of the new school in Inuvik? The budget is big enough. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 224-15(5): Infrastructure Requirements Of The Inuvik Children First Society

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not sure that you can say that the budget is big enough if it’s been planned already without that space there. The community has been involved intimately in the plans for the school. The space has been set aside for it, but there is a requirement for the community to get involved. It’s worth pointing out that the community itself has a number of options right now. The municipality will have access to gas tax funds, MRIF funds, and improved capital funding that my colleague, the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, spoke about just last week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Supplementary To Question 224-15(5): Infrastructure Requirements Of The Inuvik Children First Society

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is true, they do have other options up in Inuvik and the Children First Society has been trying to explore all the options. But I firmly believe that it’s this government’s responsibility to help with this. What do we have to do as an Assembly to add these costs into the capital program for the construction of new schools? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 224-15(5): Infrastructure Requirements Of The Inuvik Children First Society

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it would take more money in the capital plan. That’s what it would take. It’s fairly simple. So if we win the argument with the federal government, if we are successful at pressing home that we need resource revenue sharing, that we need a reasonable deal with Ottawa, then we have a chance to do that. But this is an issue that’s important not just to Inuvik. We have other communities that within the next couple of years, are going to lose the space that their childcare centres are in and they don’t have new schools planned. So this is a pressing issue across the Territories and one that we would dearly love to deal with. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.