Jackson Lafferty

I do believe we are committed to having the school expedited, the second phase. So that’s why we continue to pressure the federal government to sponsor us as they did in phase one. They provided the funding to the schools and we’re hoping that they’ll continue to do so. Those are the discussions that we continue to have to put more pressure on the federal government. We’ll continue to do that.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, it would all depend on the community, what kind of facility that they have. The criteria, of course, will be followed. We do have various funding through Early Childhood Development, whether it is daycare or other areas of programming. So we can’t really give out the community-based...which community is going to receive this. All we are saying for now is the small and remote communities will certainly benefit from this and it could be part of the Member’s riding as well. It all depends on the community infrastructure they have in place. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, all the schools are our prime focus. We’re not comparing small schools versus bigger centre schools. I think we feel that all schools are the responsibility of the GNWT as a whole under the Department of Education. But with this ongoing discussion that we’re going to be having, we need to compile that information from the divisional education council, what they have on file, with our department. Certainly, from there we’ll move forward with that information on the capital planning process. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. The reason it’s not reflected in this budget is we’re still working out the logistics of transferring those positions. So we’re at the development stages, development plans for the actual transfer of the program and also there’s going to be PYs attached to it. So those are still in the preliminary stages as we speak. Mahsi.

In the past even the current stages, the schools are being built with gymnasiums usually built in the past through MACA in partnership and also with the community. There’s always been a partnership approach, because it does reflect on the recreation aspect of it. We continue to have those dialogues with the new schools as we move forward.

Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. The School Community Counsellor Program in the past has been very successful through Aurora College. We are starting our annual programs and service proposal discussions with the college. Those are discussions that we need to have and working closely with the college president with my department. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Trout Lake school, obviously there’s a space issue, as the Member is alluding to, but we do have the student population that’s going up and down. In 2009-10 there were 15 students attending the school. But at the current stage we have 33 students. So we have to have that in mind as well as we move forward.

There is a small capital project that’s been identified in the 2010-11 Capital Plan as an immediate measure to deal with the issue with the space. But we can certainly develop a long-term plan for the school expansion down the road. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. That $272,000 is in line with Human Resource and Social Development of Canada funding to support the Early Learning and Child Care Program. Mahsi.

That infant provision is part of the ongoing discussions that we’re having, whether it be the expansion of the area. But within the early childhood spaces, we do have infants in our spaces. Within the five regions, as I indicated, the 1,800 spaces available, they also have a child care area and nursery school, after-school program and family day home. So they do take in infants as well. So we’ll continue to work with that with those organizations that we sponsor.

Mr. Chairman, this is an area of focus, as well, with our department, investing more into the early childhood development area. Yes, this particular area will be ongoing funding. Next year we will be faced with that again. It is important to note that it is a worthwhile business, so we will continue to fund that. Mahsi.