Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, my understanding of the priorities of the community of Broughton Island is that they consider the acquisition of an arena as their next recreation priority. I have received requests that the arena project be advanced. I have to tell the Member that I am not aware of a request for a curling rink at all. Thank you.

Oral questions. Ms. Mike, supplementary.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an arena I am talking about, not curling rink. Mr. Speaker, the community is quite concerned. In the past they have had a high rate of suicide. There is a definite lack of recreational facilities in the community. I was informed by the present mayor that the rink would be used not just in the winter, but that it would be utilized in the summer for recreation. When may I expect to see a plan for an arena for that community?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I am pleased that a new gymnasium was recently opened in Broughton Island. I respectfully say to the Member that that is a recreation facility that will provide some support to the community's youth.

Mr. Speaker, this is a complicated matter. The short answer is that the community's request is not in the department's capital plan in the near future. It is in the five-year plan, but it is still several years off. A design has been scheduled for the 1996-97 fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, the capital planning process in our department attempts to treat all communities fairly, taking into account the financial capacities of a community to carry the burden of operating a facility. There are some financial obligations in Broughton Island that, in our opinion, would prevent them from making a contribution to a new arena until those financial obligations are discharged. I will work with the Member to see whether the project can be advanced, but we also have to bear in mind other capital priorities throughout the region and the Northwest Territories. I cannot promise that it can be moved up as rapidly as the community wants. I will work with the Member to see what can be done and to see how the financial obligations can be planned for, so that community can make its contribution required and so that they can operate the arena when it is built. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Is there not a standard design that is already in place and is used for all the communities for arenas?

Mr. Patterson.

Mr. Speaker, the design would not be the problem. The projected cost of the arena is over two million dollars, and, frankly, I am concerned about the community's ability to contribute their share of the capital costs to that arena because they have yet to discharge the contribution promised for the community gym. My feeling is that they should make the contribution that was promised for the facility that was just opened, and discharge this financial obligation, before we talk about advancing the next recreation project. As I said, we are quite willing to discuss this with the Member and, perhaps, with the community. The previous obligations should be discharged by the community before they start asking for another recreation facility. Thank you.

Supplementary, Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister for the department is well aware that the community of Broughton Island is willing to compromise and give up three other capital items that are in the plan for the future. I would like to know if his department will consider looking into this seriously, because the community has a lot of young people there who have nothing to do, who would be happy to have a -- maybe better than Sanikiluaq -- to have a facility like that, that is close to the rest of the communities and that can get them going for hockey tournaments and get them involved in that. Will the Minister consider moving the plan ahead for the community arena?

Mr. Patterson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly do acknowledge that the community has been willing to defer certain pieces of mobile equipment that are presently planned. I should point out to the honourable Member that

the deferrals, as I understand it, will not come close to meeting the two million dollar arena cost. However, the Member's question is: Will I consider advancing the arena? I will make this commitment: I will be quite willing to work with the Member and the community to see what can be done within the existing constraints that we all have to live with, to move this project ahead. I think the best way is to sit down with the council and talk about the options, talk about the moneys that are still owing to this government, and work out a plan. I would be quite willing to do that, Mr. Speaker.

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will give a response to that question on Monday, as I have not looked at my mail since I came back from Toronto

Mr. Bernhardt.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have question for the Minister of Education, but since he is not here I would like to direct the question to the Government Leader. On February 14th Mr. Todd asked a question in regard to the continuation of special needs programming in the Keewatin schools. When can we expect an answer to Mr. Todd's question?

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, the reply is being prepared, and I will stress to the Minister responsible to provide an answer early next week.

Oral questions. Mr. Dent.