Jackson Lafferty

The information that I did receive – and I will be going back to WSCC for another follow-up meeting, because whenever a concern has been addressed by the Members and the general public, I usually meet with the chair and the president.

With respect to this increase in assessment rates for 2013 of 16 percent, this has been in the subsidy area. A subsidy has been provided for the last 10 years and now WSCC has taken that back. In return is an increase in assessment rates. That information was brought to my attention. It is the subsidy that has been provided is now taken back by WSCC due to the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I did meet with the board chair and the president and I did share some of the concerns that were brought to my attention. Part of the reason why this rate is going up is due to the fact that their investment at the national stage has had a downturn in investment in the environment, and also the rising cost of health care across Canada. Given that there have been subsidies given to these businesses across the Northwest Territories for the last 10 years, it has basically taken back the subsidy and put that into an increase in assessment rates. So, swapping that. That was my...

When this was first introduced for 2013, the increase of 16 percent, I did indicate to the president and the chair that they need to work closely with even the smallest contractor on what the implications would be. What kind of subsidy are we providing? Is it in replacement of a subsidy to increase the assessment rates? It was assured to me that it was in replacement. I told them that we need to have a long-term mechanism to highlight the implications and potential impacts. I will be sharing that information with the Members once it is available to me by WSCC.

Mr. Speaker, I got the facts here from WSCC and it is in between. It’s not 6 percent or what the Member is alluding to; it is an increase in 2013 of 16 percent. That’s the number I have from WSCC, in replacement of the subsidy that’s been provided over the last 10 years.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Aurora College students who are here with us today. They are second year social work students in the Social Work Program. They are attending on behalf of their Social Work 469 Canadian Social Policy class. They are Kelly Bothamley and Jacq Brasseur. I’d also like to recognize Jane Arychuk, the interim president of the college.

This position or project came into play and has been very unique the way it’s been approached by the Children First Society. It has been in the works for the last four or five years now, or even longer before that, with the committee. They’ve initiated their discussion with the community and the leadership got involved.

It’s similar to what we’ve done here in Yellowknife area with Betty House and the dementia centre, just to name a few. We were in a position to make a decision for 90-plus children in a centre and this should be a good-news item for the Northwest Territories, with a contribution...

Mr. Speaker, that is part of the long-term plan. The Member alluded to 2018-19; it could be sooner. It all depends on the situation in the communities. We are not excluding those regional, small, isolated communities. We have to treat all the schools the same. It is all based on criteria as well. We need to follow that. That is our Government of the Northwest Territories criteria and standards that we are following. We cannot break those rules.

This is an issue that we have encountered in the past where there is capital infrastructure that happens every year. These discussions happen on a...

Mahsi, Madam Chair. I’ll just, again, thank the Member and also thank the community of Inuvik for their commitment and dedication towards this project. So, mahsi.

We can provide a detailed briefing or briefing materials to the Member if that is the wish. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Charles Tetcho School in Trout Lake fits the criteria that we have right now. That is the NWT Schools Capital Standards and Criteria of maximum capacity with the 33 capacity within that school. Right now it is at 61 percent. As the Member indicated, 19 for 2011-12, so the school does meet the approved standard for classroom space and size. That is what we have currently, but the Member raised the issue on numerous occasions. I did address it with my department, how we can look into those areas of small community schools, distraction and so forth. We are looking into...