Oral questions. Mr. Pudlat

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister of Education. The Baffin Divisional Board of Education had a meeting recently regarding funding that was to be provided monthly. Since he has met with officials, have they agreed on any other ways of dealing with this? The chairman of the divisional board of education has indicated he will not sign this. Has he thought about dealing with this in another way? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Minister.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The MLA for Baffin South is aware that all the divisional boards of education recently had a meeting. The executive directors and chairmen had a meeting in Yellowknife, The Department of Education has not come up with an agreement on the estimate of funding they will be losing for this year. This has not been decided. The divisional board chairmen who do not agree to sign are still provided with monthly funding. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of Education regarding a concern about the Minister's apparent plan to terminate the Keewatin teacher education project after its second year. This is the most successful program ever to involve aboriginal people in the teacher education program. It does not make sense to terminate the program if the government is really committed to decentralization. The first priority should be to hold on to what works. My question is, can the Minister assure the House that the Keewatin teacher education project will not be terminated without a full evaluation of the project and of the demand for further community-based teacher education in the Keewatin? Thank you.

Mr. Minister.

Mr. Speaker, the short answer is yes, but my understanding is that when the program was started, there was an agreement made that this program would continue for only two years. But I could assure the Member that my department and the divisional board will make a full assessment of the program. If it needs to be continued, I

would have to request from my colleagues that this program be continued, along with the resources for it. But at this point, I cannot make that assumption without the proper assessment that will be made by the department, the divisional board and the people who are affected. Thank you.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Education. The Minister of Education must remember that when Mr. Kakfwi was the Minister of Education, he initiated an affirmative action program -- or at least the. government did -- to allow that aboriginal people to become qualified teachers and qualified for other positions within the government. Now he is the Minister of Personnel. My question is to the Minister of Education. With that government commitment, will he make the teacher education program permanent rather than a three-year program when they are re-evaluating that three-year project?

Also, it has been reported that Baffin is bound to lose approximately one million dollars; Keewatin probably a similar portion, maybe smaller, but a similar portion; that had allowed the divisional boards to produce Inuktitut programs and hire cultural inclusion programs from that quarterly contribution from the government. Would he then make it a permanent program rather than just a two-year program, because everyone recognizes that they are essential?

I think there is a problem for all Members when two questions are asked. I ask the honourable Member if he could pose the question that he would like answered, please. Mr. Arvaluk, you asked two questions. Could you pose the question that you want the Minister to answer?

I am sorry, Mr. Speaker. I had so many questions. I did not mean to put two of them at the same time, but yes, that is what I meant. That probably would have to be a supplementary, Mr. Speaker.

I take it that the first question, whether or not it should be extended, is the question that the Minister could respond to.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. As I answered to the Member for Kivallivik, before the program is terminated, I have asked my department and also the divisional board to look at the program and to make an assessment of the program. If it is required to continue it, then ultimately the department would have to come up with enough resources so that the program will continue.

With respect to your other question, interest revenues that were derived from the quarterly contributions by the divisional boards, the initial meeting took place between the directors of the divisional boards and the chairmen of all divisional boards here in Yellowknife about two weeks ago. I asked them to report to me as to to what degree the divisional boards would be losing interest revenue from the previous years. That information has not come back to me yet. I think the department is making some assessment on the interest revenue that was going to the communities because of the quarterly funding. I am hoping that the assessment will be done very soon. Thank you.

In an ideal parliamentary world, Members will ask one question and Ministers will respond to one

question. The time for question period has expired.

Item 6, written questions, Written questions.

Item 7, returns to written questions. Returns to written questions.

Item 8, replies to Opening Address. Replies to Opening Address.

Item 9, petitions. Petitions.

Item 10, reports of standing and special committees. Mr. Lewis.

Mr. Speaker, you are a bit too fast for me. I would like to table this petition signed by 320 people in this community. It really asks that the appropriate government take steps to try to resolve the strike at...

Mr. Lewis, are you requesting a return to another item? Because we are not on that item, Mr. Lewis. We are on reports of standing and special committees. Reports of standing and special committees. Item 11, reports of committees on the review of bills. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Report Of The Standing Committee On Legislation On Bills 2, 3, 6, 18, 19 And 20

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the standing committee on legislation has reviewed Bills 2, 3, 6, 18, 19 and 20 and wishes to report that Bills 2, 6, 19 and 20 are now ready for committee of the whole and that Bill 3 and Bill 18 are ready for committee of the whole as reprinted and amended. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Pursuant to Rule 66(3), Bills 2, 3, 6, 18, 19 and 20 are ordered into committee of the whole.

Reports of committees on the review of bills. Arngna'naaq.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Bill 4 will go to the standing committee on legislation under Rule 66(1).

Reports of committees on the review of bills.

Item 12, tabling of documents. Tabling of documents.

Item 13, notices of motions. Notices of motions. Item 14, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, June 19, 1992, 1 shall move that Bill 28, An Act Respecting Interim Appropriations for the Government of the NWT for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 1993, No. 2, be read for the first time.

Notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.