Debates of November 29, 2007 (day 5)

November
29
2007
Day
5
Speaker
Paul Delorey
Word
Members Present
ITEM 1: PRAYER
Assembly Members
Topics
Member's Statement On Deh Cho Travel Connection
Member’s Statement On Black Mould Problems In Paulatuk Housing Units
Member’s Statement On Condition Of Highway No. 6
Member’s Statement On Consumer Protection Laws
Member’s Statement On Coordinated Approach For Government Support For The Northern Arts Sector
Member’s Statement On Creative Approaches To The Maintenance Of Highway Infrastructure
Member’s Statement On Development Of Small Business Opportunities
Member’s Statement On Diamond Jenness Secondary School Retrofit
Member’s Statement On Stanton Territorial Health Authority Human Resource Plan
Member’s Statement On Transportation Issues In The Beaufort-Delta Region
Minister’s Statement 6-16(1): Importance Of High School Graduation
Minister’s Statement 7-16(1): National Adoption Awareness Month
Minister’s Statement 8-16(1): Youth Centres Initiative
Motion 17-16(1): Appointment Of Two Members To The Human Rights Adjudication Panel
Motion 17-16(1): Appointment Of Two Members To The Human Rights Adjudication Panel, Carried
Mr. Krutko's Reply
Question 60-16(1): Diamond Jenness Secondary School Retrofit
Question 61-16(1): Stanton Territorial Health Authority Human Resource Plan
Question 62-16(1): Creative Approach To The Maintenance Of Highway Infrastructure
Question 63-16(1): Condition Of Highway No. 6
Question 64-16(1): Operational Grant For The Host Society Of The Arctic Winter Games
Question 65-16(1): Culvert Collapse At Caribou Creek
Question 66-16(1): Black Mould Problems In Paulatuk Housing Units
Question 67-16(1): Territorial Strategy For Highway Surfaces
Question 68-16(1): Consumer Protection Laws
Question 69-16(1): Diamond Jenness Secondary School Retrofit
Question 70-16(1): Coordinated Approach To Government Support For The Arts Sector
Question 71-16(1): Implementation Of A 911 Service
Tabled Document 11-16(1): Petition To Address Crack Cocaine Problems In Inuvik
Written Question 2-16(1): Status Of Culverts On The Dempster Highway
Statements

Member’s Statement On Diamond Jenness Secondary School Retrofit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have in my hand again today the technical evaluation of the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River and I could stand up here and make a nice speech and list off all the things that are wrong with that school but, you know, I am sick and tired of talking about the substandard school that we have in Hay River. There are so many things in this report that would indicate that we are expecting our teachers to work in a substandard building, we are expecting our students to be educated in a substandard building, and this is a shame. This should not be allowed to continue.

I have stood and talked about it in this House many times. We’ve had every Minister, we’ve had the Premier, we’ve had everybody go there and go through that school and see the things that are wrong, and I want to know why it’s not in the capital budget to be replaced. Do we have to have somebody start a fire and fill the school with smoke, or do we have to have a roof cave in? What do we need to do to get in the line here for a proper school for our high school students in Hay River?

I mean, it’s very, very frustrating. This school was built in 1972. It’s had no major work done to it since. There are security and safety issues associated with this school and it needs to be addressed. Now we have a new Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, so, of course, I have hope. You can’t give up hope.

But I want to tell you that I am extremely frustrated. No other building, other than what’s owned by the Government of the Northwest Territories, would be allowed to operate in this kind of disrepair. There are code issues. Now, there are some things that are satisfactory and they have a 10 to 15-year life expectancy, so maybe it is just a renovation that we need, but we need something, Mr. Speaker. I will invite the new Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to come to Hay River to see this, but we’ve got to get in the line-up. This has to be a priority. This school is 35 years old; it is time for a retrofit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause