Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister of Finance could explain the problem that we are in. Thank you.

I am sure the Minister of Finance could. Minister of Finance.

You can see the excitement on my face, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think there is an agreement in place right now, and maybe the boards are not in agreement, but certainly we have tried to reach an accommodation whereby at the end of this fiscal year we do not pay that block funding in three-month chunks. However, Mr. Speaker, we are aware that if we do something of that nature it may cause some harm to programs that boards have been delivering in schools. I think the approach we would like to take is to say, "We cannot be giving you these kinds of moneys in those kinds of amounts. It has to be on a shorter-term basis, but if that is going to leave you short, then please make arguments to us and we will duly look at those arguments." We are going to try to work it out with the boards, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In that case, would Education fund the existing programs provided by the Deh Cho Divisional Board of Education if they decide to change the quarterly contribution to a shorter contribution? Mahsi.

Minister of Education.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The funding question is throughout the Northwest Territories. We are looking at it at the present time and will review it further as time is coming nearer to the end of the fiscal year. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question, but I think it has already been answered. We just heard that the funding will not be changed in the fiscal year. There has been a concern with regard to education committees in the communities, particularly in the Baffin Region. They would like to have some funding for Inuktitut programs. They have been utilizing the money handed to them. They have all kinds of things in the offices that the money has to be put into. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is more like a comment.

I think that would have been more appropriate under Members' statements. I think the question is in the same category as the previous question, and perhaps if the Minister of Finance or Education would like to reiterate the commitment they made earlier, it might help Mr. Pudlat. Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, we are aware as a government that boards have been putting the block funding that we have been giving them, the lump sum funding, into the bank and drawing interest. I think some of them have been investing it back with us. They have been using the interest on those sums of money to enhance the programs for

the children in the schools. We are aware of that.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the Auditor General is not pleased with the fact that we deal with public funds in that manner, by giving it out in block, and has recommended that we cease to do that and we do it on a more monthly basis, which, of course, is going to reduce the interest earned on that money by the boards, and consequently they will not have as much money to fund the extra programs that they have been putting on. We are aware of it. We are prepared to sit down with the boards and work it out with them. You have the commitment from myself and the Minister of Education in that regard. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. I appreciate the government's response and their commitment relating to my previous question about the Gwich'in final agreement. I would like the Ministers and Government Leader to know that I have not been personally involved in negotiations since September, and since there is a new cabinet I wanted to know what your feelings were on the claim. When will the government proceed with the ratification of the Gwich'in final agreement?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Koe, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Do you have any idea of the time frame you are looking at? When do you feel there will be a ratification by this government?

Mr. Kakfwi.

Mr. Koe, second supplementary.