Mr. Speaker, the Kingnait Cultural Society in Cape Dorset has been working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment officials to develop a cultural centre to house a large collection of Inuit drawings, prints and sculptures produced for the West Baffin Eskimo Co-op. Much of this collection is now on loan to the McMichael Museum in Kleinberg, Ontario.
Through carry overs and new funding available in the 1992-93 budget, $177,000 has been allocated for planning for the centre during the current fiscal year. The 1993-94 capital budget includes a further $500,000 to be used for construction of the facility. Both sums are identified as contributions intended to cover a portion of the cost of the project which is currently estimated at approximately $2 million.
The government recognizes that in the current fiscal climate it will be difficult for the Kingnait Cultural Society to raise the rest of the funds as was planned. The society may have to alter its plans to meet the funding that is available. The department is consulting with the Kingnait officials on this matter. Mahsi.