Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, followup to my Member's statement, I have a few questions for the Minister of Education. I would like to ask the Minister: will the Minister be in support of removing the two buildings for a cultural area in Aklavik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question was brought up from the Member, and we have the department looking into it. We're also waiting for the Beaufort Delta Education Council to receive a request from the school. I encourage the Member and the staff at Moose Kerr School in Aklavik to talk with the education council as well as the education authority to see about getting that process moved. We obviously want to support the cultural activities in the small communities, all communities, in the Northwest Territories, and I encourage the Member to speak with the staff to bring that request forward. We’ll take the appropriate steps when we do receive that request. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, many times when we speak about any buildings on the premises in the area of the school, it's a shared interest, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, these buildings are a combination of both education and public works. I'd like to ask the Minister: will the Minister work with the Minister of Public Works as they have a shared interest in these two buildings?
When it comes to governmentowned buildings, we definitely always work with the Minister of Public Works and Services to ensure that they are demolished in a safe manner and, if there's any other environmental issues with it, that we do it the proper way, so, definitely, once we get the request in and start working on it.
Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, these buildings were built in the ‘60s and ‘70s, well before DEAs were established, Mr. Speaker, so I don't think it would be proper that the DEA was to have to pay for this. Will the Minister reassure me that the department will pick up the cost for the removal of these two buildings?
As I mentioned, Mr. Speaker, we're just waiting for the request, see what the cost will be, and we'll wait until the staff at Moose Kerr School brings it to the department, and we'll take it from there.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
