Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Initially, when we did the review and we talked about becoming a polytechnic university, I am always trying to be optimistic. I have learned, being a Cabinet Minister. "Under-commit and over-perform" is my motto. I had five, six years probably. We are moving. We are getting this gung-ho. We are going forward.

We do have a tentative timeline for the strategic framework for the Aurora College. That will be beginning in the fall. Then, when it will be done will be a little bit difficult to say. I am assuming that, in the fall, there will be a new Cabinet. At that point, a...

Mr. Speaker, on June 4th, I tabled the final report of the National Inquiry on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in this House. The report, entitled "Reclaiming Power and Place," outlines the systemic causes of the violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people in this country. The inquiry's report also presents 231 recommendations as Calls for Justice.

The Calls for Justice cover many areas of public and private activity, including, among others, the justice system and police services, health and wellness programs, human security, and extractive industries...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do want to clarify, it's not like the capital city, Yellowknife, has been neglected in this. The MLA had brought up the name of the Yellowknife Daycare Society. That daycare society, that infrastructure building was provided free of cost for decades within this community. We haven't done that in other communities. So Yellowknife hasn't been neglected in that. The reason I'm working with smaller communities is they don't have any daycares. They have zero daycares. Some of them have zero early childhood programming, period. So I always say a society is judged by how we...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What I should clarify is that any other partnerships that we're talking about at this point is not that the GNWT would take on the capital for childcare facilities in schools, or healthcare facilities in schools. It's a partnership, so part of the partnership is working together, putting money together, making it best for their communities.

The school in Tuktoyaktuk at this point is just looking at school updates and a renovation, but there is no plan at this time to put a childcare facility in that school, as far as I know. I haven't had conversations with that community...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Currently, within our capital budget process, childcare facilities are not identified as a capital project. We've never done that. It does need to be something, I think, that needs to be looked at in the next Legislative Assembly. However, in saying that, though, I have been working with communities. Any new school that is on the books and that I have gotten into and talked to, we're actually working closely with them; it's not only childcare centres that we're looking at. It's making schools hubs of communities. I have really been focusing with the community governments...

Absolutely. It makes sense that we have supports for students. One of the best things about remembering when I was back in university, again, I am old so it was quite a long time ago. When I was back in university, some of the best supports I had were from my peers. I am assuming that that is still relevant. I have been to the campus in Yellowknife. They are meeting in the stairwell. It is not even a space. I wouldn't even call that a student area. It is not the campus's fault. It is not Yellowknife's fault. It is the fault that we have outgrown it. Yellowknife is bulging at the seams.

Would I...

Yes. I would love to actually clarify because sometimes my mouth goes a little bit faster than my brain, or vice versa. Sometimes, things don't get out there the way they should. I will start by saying that, when I said that the idea of bricks-and-mortar is old, I did clarify and say that, as an old woman, sometimes our old perceptions are that post-secondary education has to be bricks and mortar.

The question came up in regards to where is the headquarters going to be, the age-old question that has come up. I said maybe it is time to stop thinking about where the headquarters will be. In fact...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to take a moment to recognize some visitors in the gallery, Ms. Yvonne Hopkins and Amanda Baton, with the Northwest Territories Native Women's Association; also, Yolanda Chapman, who is with Intergovernmental Affairs; and my one and only power woman, the Minister's advisor for women issues, Ms. Elizabeth, commonly known as Sabet, Biscaye. She rocks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The city of Yellowknife is a little bit different in that it's a bigger centre. I'm working with the smaller communities because, in all honesty, they have a lot fewer resources than our capital city does, and huge needs within that. Within the smaller communities, it is mostly Indigenous governments who have funding to bring to the table because they are already building things like their own band offices, et cetera. The city of Yellowknife, there is no Indigenous community, actually, that has an ownership of these schools. In fact, a lot of the schools are owned by the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize two people in the education field, Ms. Suzette Montreuil with the Commission scolaire, and also Ms. Josee Clermont with the College nordique. I do want to say that, College nordique, we have had many meetings working with them on advancing our post-secondary education. It has been very, very good. I am hoping that the next Assembly will carry forward the great work. By working together, we provide a better education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.