Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When the standing committee on finance looked at Culture and Communications, we were somewhat concerned about the approach that was taken with some of its capital expenditures; in particular, the library facilities. It appeared there was little discussion that went on, certainly at the bureaucratic level, between the bureaucracy of Culture and Communications and schools or the Department of Economic Development visitors' centres.

It appeared to us that little or no consideration was given by the department to plan the integration of community libraries with other facilities, such as schools. We have a library facility in Rankin Inlet that works very well within the Maani Ulujuk High School, and functions very well. It seems to us that there was little or no discussion with respect to that.

We were going to be looking at building a high school in Pond Inlet, and separate libraries there. We have built the high school expansion in Arviat, and now we are doing a stand-alone building, a library, in Arviat. Yet, we had a visitors' centre going in there last year.

It was the contention of the standing committee on finance that the cost of stand-alone facilities not only affects the capital cost, but it also affects the ongoing operation and maintenance costs. Clearly there has to be a better integration in getting better value for money with respect to library services. We all recognize library services as an essential service both for our children and for our adults in the communities.

Given these difficult times, as we have consistently been told by the Minister of Finance and the government, we were also somewhat concerned about a $2.4 million renovation and expansion to the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre. We were told that the requirement for this renovation/expansion was Fire Marshal-driven and that this was required because there were artifacts stored in trailers. We were not sure, and still are not sure at this particular time, given other priorities, that this, in fact, was money well spent.

The committee will recommend, through resolution, that all free-standing libraries be deferred until a policy is in place to integrate them with schools or other suitable facilities. It will also recommend that further renovations to the heritage centre be put on hold, pending development of a policy integrating museum development in the NWT, as was recommended in the 1991-92 standing committee on finance report. I love that. It is always a delight to know that I am consistent with my good friend, Mr. Pollard, on these issues.

Motion To Defer Construction Of Free-Standing Libraries Until Policy Is In Place To Integrate Them With Schools, Carried

Therefore, Mr. Chairman, if I may: I move that the committee recommends to the Department of Culture and Communications that the construction of all free-standing libraries be deferred until a policy is in place to integrate them with schools or other suitable facilities.