Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out to this Assembly that the Hamlet of Enterprise is the only hamlet in the Northwest Territories that does not have a school of its own.
Mr. Speaker, can you imagine that in today's climate of reconciliation and with the national focus and the utmost importance of quality early learning and childcare that the parents of young children in the Hamlet of Enterprise are still forced to send their children to the town of Hay River, which is approximately 40 kilometres away, in order to receive an education. Mr. Speaker, this situation is completely unacceptable.
This government has made a commitment to the people of the North that every effort will be made to reconcile the horrific history and legacy of the residential school system, including the long history of sending our students away from their community to attend day schools. I wonder how many of our Cabinet and Regular Members, who themselves may be parents or grandparents of young children, would be comfortable in having their four, five, or sixyearolds sit on the bus each day, and even in extreme weather conditions, to be transported to a school 40 kilometres away.
Mr. Speaker, the Hamlet of Enterprise and the education working group have been advocating for numerous years to have a small elementary school established in their community. The elementary school would focus on educating students from junior kindergarten to grade 6. The hamlet has identified existing infrastructure that could be converted but does require the assistance from ECE.
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake.
