Alfred Moses

Obviously, we do support that as a government. We support our artists that go to national events and festivals throughout the country. We will continue to do that. We also do it in the sports sector. If you look at the upcoming Olympics, we have three athletes who are going to be going to the Olympics who have gone through the system. We also have Juno Award winners, nominees whom we have supported coming from the communities. If you look at other programs we do as a government and as a territory, such as traditional game summits that promote sport, culture, and our artists as well as the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Collectively, the GNWT supports the arts community with various departments, with various rebates, with various different supports. We are currently looking at how much we are spending in the arts sector with all departments. Before we begin those discussions, we need to see what those numbers are. We are confident that we do provide sufficient support to the whole NWT arts sector and all the programs that we have throughout the GNWT departments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I would just like to welcome and recognize the staff, board members, and alumni for Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning. Welcome to the House. I hope you enjoy the proceedings. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents entitled "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 830-18(2): Small Community Employment Support Program," and "Follow-Up Letter for Oral Question 912-(2): Small Community Employment Support Program." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

It's great to see that DJSS has great working relationships with the Hay River Metis and the Government Council. We also see that up in my region, where the IRC has taken one of the leading roles to help their students succeed, as well. As a government, we do provide inclusive schooling funding to all, well above the legislated amounts that we have, and work with our education authorities, our superintendents, board chairs, to ensure that services are being provided to assist those with special needs in the communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment does not decide what courses are being offered each semester within their respective schools. That is the responsibility of the school administration in consultation with the superintendents of education. DJSS could offer dash-4 courses, dash-1 courses, but it is the responsibility of the school administration and the superintendent. I think that needs to be brought up to the superintendent as well as brought forth to the administration of the school.

We do have a few projects on the go. We're looking at a mid-life retrofit, including all major building systems within the Lutsel K'e Dene School; obviously, at Ecole Alain St-Cyr, we're still continuing to do work there; Mangilaluk School, in Tuktoyaktuk, we're putting some additions; the Charles Tetcho School, in Trout Lake, we are continuing to do some work there. That has been some of our major programs that we have got on tap here for 2018-2019. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And, yes, the Member is right. Within the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, we have a needs assessment, a 20-year needs assessment, and we review it on an annual basis and update it on an annual basis. As you know, within the department, we have to look after schools, colleges, learning centres, libraries, museums, and make a priority out of those infrastructures, not to mention looking at the priorities of other departments within this government. As the Member knows, any time we look at putting in additional space or make it a new school, the...

As always, we are committed to looking at all of our assets and our infrastructure within all the areas that I mentioned earlier on a yearly basis and update them. Currently for this year, we are allocating about $223,000 for small capital funding, and that will be allocated for site demolition and removal for the hazardous portables and the creation of a play space for the students and the community.

We are also working with the hamlet to address some of the issues around safety for the students who are walking from within the community to the school; and also looked at possibly how we can...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the follow document entitled "Aurora College Corporate Plan 2017-2018." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.