INUVIK - A proposed early childhood development centre may not be part of Inuvik's new school if the society to run it can't pay for it.

Patricia Davison, who works with the Children First society, said the group has received a letter from the territorial department of Public Works stating that if they don't have the money available to pay for the centre's construction, they will be left out of the plans for the new school.

Children First Society chairperson Patricia Davison poses with a letter she was e-mailed from Public Works, informing her that the day care centre would not be included in the plans for the new school, if the money to pay for it wasn't yet available. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo

"We got the letter on June 22, they sent it by e-mail," said Davison.

Davison said the builders are ready to start drainage plans on the building and told the group that they would not be included in the first step of construction.

"They said they had to continue without our group attached to the school," said Davison.

Davison said she was told it would cost more money if the designers had to remove the early childhood centre from the design plans later in the process.

"They said the premiums would go up if they had to go back to change anything later," she said.

"They said they could look at grading our portion of the land next year if we have the money they want," said Davison.

"But we were to be left out at this phase because we don't have the money we need."

Davison said she deciphered this to mean that one day the childhood centre might be tacked on, but not right now.

According to Davison, the amount required from Children First at the time of the letter was $4,182,486.

Davison said that with rising costs, the estimate at the time of construction would be $6,691,994.

According to Davison, the group is now looking to develop on their own in a different location.

"We're looking around for a place to go," she said.

"It would cost us less than $6 million to build elsewhere," she said.

Davison said that she is still in contact with the departments of Public Works and Education, Culture and Employment.

ECE minister Charles Dent said the cost of adding the childhood development centre to the school is not feasible.

"There is no money in the territorial budget for day care space," said Dent.

"We agree that a day care should be connected to the school. It's a great idea, but we can't afford to do that right now."

Dent added that just because the money is not available now, it still could be added to the project at a later date.

"It might be possible at a future date," said Dent.

"I think we should have day cares with every school in the Territories."

Dent added that the most recent price tag of the new school of $70 million dollars is already outdated.

"I don't have the new numbers here, but I have heard verbally that it has already risen," said Dent.

"The price increases are killing us. It's safe to say that every one of our projects has increased significantly."

Dent said that he is still in communication with Davison and the Children First society.