Shane Thompson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Previously, I've asked the Minister about setting up a recycling depot or terminal or whatever you want to call it, distribution centre, for the region. Can the Minister advise if there have been any further conversations about setting up a distribution centre; not a depot but a distribution centre? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In the budget, we talked about a feasibility study for northern sustainability and community resilience, $150,000 under it as an initiative. In the business plan, on page 60, it says that it has been fulfilled. Can the Minister explain how this happened, or if this has been fulfilled or not? It is $150,000 in the budget.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am not worried. I greatly appreciate the Minister providing this information because, again, when we have news coming out and saying things and we have these researchers, that is why I was asking the question. Is our staff working with the Aboriginal population, using traditional knowledge? At the end of the day, that is where we do things. I just wanted to make sure that we were following that practice. I greatly appreciate that. Again, elders are very wise. The reason why they are there is they have lived a long time and they know a lot of stuff. I know, in my riding...

That is great to hear. Since the training has started and is individualized, which is great, has the department and the staff started to work on reviewing these files?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess my next set of questions is just in regards to positions being lost. Right now, we are seeing a decline of 60 students in the Deh Cho, so we are going to see positions being lost. Right now, we are bare bones. You know, when you talk about extraordinary circumstances, that is after. Has the department looked at setting up to look at these situations where we are going to lose 60 students and it is going to have an impact on the education system? Have you looked at it, and are you willing to work with that board to get it to be successful? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to the distance learning program, previously the Minister was talking about an expansion there. How much money is it going to cost us to expand to these additional four communities? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Minister keeps on talking to us about $13 million as a surplus. Now, all of a sudden, we have to wait actually until later on. My question, though, is: if a district education authority has the ability to come up with a plan to utilize the surplus that actually will enhance the education for our youth, can they use that money without getting it clawed back? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Minister for that answer. Unfortunately, I'm asking the questions today, so I am not going to wait until tomorrow or until the future. I am asking about other courses, the expanding of the program right now that exists. Have you looked at that opportunity? Could you make a commitment to get the department to look, at least, that opportunity for expanding it to other courses, just not the peer courses? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. So not only are we asking them to go out there and promote the daycares, but you are supposed to help this part-time position, so we are just loading up on this individual here, to do more work. Can the Minister explain that rationale? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I am not asking her for a commitment, but I am asking her to make sure that she has her staff there, the superintendent of schools, ECE, and a couple of other people there, to hear the concerns from people about the upgrading needed. Can she commit to having at least a couple of those people available to be part of the tour?