Jackson Lafferty

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank the Member for bringing up some of the areas, whether it be a concern or ideas and suggestions. First and foremost is the planning process obviously would consist of community involvement, DEAs and DECs and also leadership. We did receive a correspondence via the MLA from the chief, asking how they can be part of the process. By any means, we want them to be involved because it will have a positive impact into the community and they need to be part of that. So we will be involving the DEAs, DECs, leadership as well.

I agree with the Member that the Sahtu...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The Member is correct; there is proposed funding for a planning study. That is to deal with the long-term needs of the school. So, it’s been identified in the ‘14-15 Capital Plan. Part of the planning study is to provide a review of the existing school that we’ve been talking about in this House for years, and the needs analysis of the school. Also the operational plan that will be identified to determine the required scope of work that needs to happen. From there we will be pushing through the capital planning process as we move forward. So, those are just some of the...

Yes, Mr. Chair. We will provide that additional detailed information. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. With me to my left is Dana Heide, associate deputy minister with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment; and also, to my right is Tammy Allison, facility planning consultant within ECE.

We are working very closely with Public Works and Services and Health and Social Services because dental would fall under Health and Social Services laws. So we have to meet the standards when we start renovating that area, so we have to make sure that it does meet the standards the Member is referring to. That’s a good point, so we will definitely take that into consideration. The Minister of Health is here as well. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission Annual Report 2012. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. We need to gather the latest update on that. It’s really fine print right now, but what we need to do is work with the college, Aurora College Board of Governors, to see if there’s a need for that. I’m sure the leadership has addressed that with the Board of Governors, if that’s the case. We need to address it with them and have them identify it as a priority and then it will be addressed to my attention as Minister responsible so I can put it through the capital infrastructure process. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

To deal with the bullying in schools, it is very important to us. We need to eliminate the bullying in schools. As the Minister responsible for Education, it is very important to me.

With respect to the media, how we are going to correspond and the communications plan for education awareness, we are moving forward on those action plans. We need to develop communication tools so we can work with the DECs, MACA, the Justice department, Health and Social Services and other departments that are responsible for their part in this as well. We are doing what we can to deal with the bullying in our...

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. With any planning studies, we need to identify areas of the project itself, and once we do an analysis and scope of work, then we need to identify, through the capital planning process, what is required if there is going to be a new school built.

I believe that is what Ms. Allison was referring to, but I can get Ms. Allison to elaborate and make more clarification on that subject. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since there was a request by the standing committee of this Legislative Assembly, we’ve initiated our own research and conducted various analyses, and I’ll say engaged the general public, as well, and also the standing committee went out to seek information and input from the general public. The legislation and Safe Schools Plan have been developed through this process. It is an area that pertains to my Education portfolio, where we’re going to be amending our Education Act.

When we talk about territorial-wide, it’s beyond my mandate. What we’re focusing on is the Education...