Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, we do not assist the communities in telephone deals.

Thank you. Total activity, $93,000. Mr. Koe.

What is the status of television services or future television services in terms of what the government is going to be doing? Will they be producing their own TV shows, or will they be contracting out and utilizing, say, TVNC or something like that?

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the television field, especially the Television Northern Canada coming on, we are part of the consortium of the native communications societies throughout the Northwest Territories, Alaska, northern Quebec, the western Arctic of the Northwest Territories, Yukon. We are a consortium in dealing with Television Northern Canada. Right now we do both. We produce some programs for the Departments of Education and Health and other departments on a request basis, and we assist all of the native communications societies of the Northwest Territories to help them produce their own television programming that could be aired through Television Northern Canada. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

If that is the case in what you stated, the government is very committed to assisting TVNC in the production of TV. In terms of moneys, will the government be arranging any kinds of contracts or agreements with TVNC? I do not see any capital expenditures here, but I know they are building new facilities today, and I am wondering whether or not any contractual arrangements have been made.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. At this point, Television Northern Canada has no capability to produce television programming. What they do is, native communication societies of the Northwest Territories produce programming that will be aired through Television Northern Canada. Television Northern Canada itself does not have the capability. They are a vehicle to air programming produced by native broadcasting societies. What we do as a department is that we contract or help native broadcasting societies throughout the Northwest Territories, such as IBC and native communication societies of the West, to produce programming so that it can be aired through Television Northern Canada. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

Let me rephrase that question, then. Have any long-term arrangements been made with the Native Communications Society of the Western Arctic with regard to production of TV shows for the government?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you. No, we have no longterm contracts with any of the native broadcasting societies up to this point, although I am seeking cabinet's decision whether our government will be renting office space at the building that is being completed at this moment. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Koe.

Do you have any idea when you may give them an answer in terms of leasing space, or utilizing space for TV production?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Mr. Chairman, the decision will not be made for at least a month.

Thank you. Total activity, $93,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Department Of Culture And Communications, Total Capital, Agreed

Page 05-7, program summary, capital expenditure, total capital expenditure, $1,302,000. Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed

Are you agreed that the Department of Culture and Communications has been concluded? Agreed?

Agreed.

--- Agreed