Mr. Speaker, I have another return, if I may, asked by Mr. Koe on April 2, 1992. In December 1991, the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Board of Education and Arctic College, Aurora Campus, submitted a proposal to the Department of Education to establish a two-year teacher education program in Inuvik to begin in September 1992. The program proposal requested $908,981 for this two-year period. In addition to this amount, the department was expected to provide student financial assistance and/or education leave for approximately 15 fulltime students and 30 part-time students. Student financial assistance and education leave for those students represents an additional minimum of $600,000 over the two-year period.
During March and April 1992, the department reviewed its fiscal position and informed the Beaufort-Delta Divisional Board and Arctic College that it could not support any new teacher education program initiatives at this time. The department had received one other new proposal to deliver a community-based teacher education program, and this proposal was denied as well. Support for the current community-based teacher education programs which are being offered in the Keewatin, South Slave and Dogrib areas will, however, be continued this year.
The department's capacity to expand the delivery of community-based teacher education programs is determined by the funding available for the development and delivery of teacher education programs and the funding available to provide financial support to teacher education students through the education leave program. The Department of Education is reviewing all training and support programs designed to develop northern educators and will be making recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of these programs this fiscal year.