Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Community Extension Program

Thank you. Yes, through our community extension program. Let me bring the Member up-to-date on what has been happening as recently as December, when we met with the standing committee on finance. Our plan was to bring all the students to Yellowknife and expand the capacity of Akaitcho and expand the capacity of Sir John, but we are talking about lots of money -- money that my department and the government of the Northwest Territories were not able to meet. As you know, there is overcrowding in Sir John, and Akaitcho is at capacity currently. So we had two options. On the advice of the standing committee on finance, we agreed that the best way to deal with the students was to deal with them at the community level. We thought that for the coming year, if we want to extend the grades in Fort Simpson, we would have to build a hostel. Prior to our decision, it was raised by the Deh Cho Divisional Board -- yes, if you are going to use Fort Simpson as a regional highschool for surrounding communities, we need a hostel because we are at capacity with home boarding. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Nerysoo.

Policy Of Grade Extensions In Relation To Student Residences

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to ask the Minister if he is considering a review of the student residence policy for all grades and all circumstances in each particular community, because I do not think you should tie the whole question of student residences to the matter or the policy of grade extensions. The fact is that students that require a residence are not necessarily in grades 10, 11 and 12, and so I ask you if you could consider that particular matter.

I am not going to oppose what Mr. Antoine wants for his particular constituency, but the fact is that if you do not have a policy that addresses the needs of the students, whether or not they are in kindergarten or grade 12, the fact is that you are not going to be clear about the direction that you want to take. So I would ask the Minister if, in addressing this particular motion, you could also address the matter of the policy and possibly report back during the next session so that we are clear about what direction we are going to take.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. To the motion. Member for Thebacha.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to know if the Minister would be able to provide to this House the amount that was initially requested to renovate the old student hostel in Fort Simpson back in 1988.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thought we had already agreed to that, and I would provide the committee with the numbers.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, with regard to the motion itself, there has been a directive or a motion passed by the finance committee, which Mr. Antoine is part of, with regard -- the government incorporating result measures into the capital and main estimates. I am just wondering whether or not that has been considered by the department with regard to that particular motion passed. I do not know if it is too soon to determine that, but I would think that when the finance committee made this motion it was on the understanding that we do not go making motions on an increase in the budget without having some kind of a result measurement system.

I spoke against the motion, but I do not see anything wrong with the way the motion has been presented, but I would think that would be something that the government has looked at and that the finance committee has considered in order for it to make that kind of a thing, because obviously the $800,000 -- I do not know where the numbers come from, or the 12-bed facility, where that comes from. I am unclear as to whether or not when we make motions, we are bound by them and we should follow them, or, in the case of some Members on the finance committee, they will make an exception and waive that motion in order to have a capital project implemented in their constituency. Maybe I could get clarification on that, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Plan For Measurement Of Results In Main Estimates

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With the measurement for an output, we are going to put a plan in place when we are dealing with the main estimates sometime this spring. Yes, we will be putting that forward in the main estimates. Mr. Chairman, I guess this motion would allow us, the department, to put $800,000 into this activity, and then, as I said earlier, I will be working with the Minister of DPW to see if he could find a way that we could be more cost effective, or to find a way that would cost less than $800,000 to put in a hostel. I will try everything we can to see if we could do it cheaper. Thank you.

Thank you. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, I do not wish to give the impression that I am against the motion itself. The motion I support, and I also support the Member for Nahendeh in regard to having such a facility, because it does benefit my constituency. The thing I do not understand is that we make motions in this House in regard to result measures and I do not see it with regard to this motion that the Minister presented, because if you read the motion, it is quite clear what the intent of it is -- result measures in the capital plans. The situation right now, Mr. Chairman, is that we realize a motion was passed and supported, but at this point in time we cannot respond to the motion until maybe the new fiscal year. That is it, basically. So while the getting is good, get it. I just wanted to mention that, Mr. Chairman, but I would like to get some numbers on how they came up with these figures and I would appreciate it if the Minister provides that. For this reason, Mr. Chairman, I would like to move that we report progress.

To the motion. Not debatable?All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is defeated. To the motion. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Chairman, I request you recognize the clock.

I still cannot recognize the clock at this moment. To the motion. Mr. Arvaluk.

I would like to move that...

To the motion.

I am making a motion, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Arvaluk.

Motion To Defer Motion To Add 12-bed Student Hostel, Fort Simpson

Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. If I have to be ruled out, I would like to be ruled out of the chair. Thank you. I would like to move that we defer the motion that is on the floor right now until we get information on the previous plan's costs for renovations to the old hostel from the Minister. Thank you.