Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Under normal circumstances, if there is a situation where the student/teacher ratio is higher than what is agreed to in the collective arrangement, certainly we would respond. We would respond after what is normally the October calculation of students who have remained in school. That is an automatic decision. It is normal and it will be part of the normal decisions of government.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my knowledge, and the knowledge of this House, that a certain capital project was cancelled by the Legislative Assembly last year. It was going to enhance the schools in Pond Inlet. Is that part of the problem? Are the schools overcrowded as a result of that cancellation? Thank you.

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That may be one of many reasons. I pointed out to my colleagues and to the Standing Committee on Finance that there have been real, significant increases in the student population right across the Northwest Territories.

I've also indicated that there has been a shortage of financial resources for us to accommodate the significant populations of children that are either staying in school, as a result of the initiative for expanding high school programs in our communities, or for that matter, the increased birth rates in our communities. Some of our communities are expanding by three times the national birth rate. What we are seeing now are the results of those rates.

The Northwest Territories is multiplying in population by two times the national average. That is what is occurring. The problem that we are having -- and my honourable friend will recognize this -- is that several years ago there was a reduction in expenditures in the Department of Education, of approximately $12 million. That was a result of commitments on the part of this government for what it considered to be other priorities and requests by Members of this House.

Generally speaking, I feel confident with the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance, which indicates that education is priority number one. But, again, that commitment can only be considered serious if Members of this Assembly reflect upon the kinds of commitments we make, in terms of financial resources to education, whether it is to schools or student residences for our children.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, also. My question is very similar to Mr. Allooloo's, the only difference is that smaller schools can not do very much to correct overcrowding conditions. When the Minister of Finance submitted his capital budget, I noticed that funding was not in the plans for an already overcrowded school, the Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet. Although it was not a five year capital plan, but a preliminary submission, it was found out by the community education council that funds will not be available until 1998-99.

Will the Minister be making corrections to this big mistake in his capital plan?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to indicate to my honourable colleague that the capital planning process, itself, is only one portion of the work that the department does, in terms of responding to the education needs of our children, or for that matter, adults who want to attend college programs.

The problem that we all have to recognize is the very significant increase in our community populations of students. You must recognize that, in the context of the resources that have been allocated, there have been no significant increases in the Department of Education. Let's be very honest about that. There are no major, significant increases in capital expenditures that would reflect what I have identified -- and what has previously been identified -- as the significant population increases in the Northwest Territories.

I have made it known to Members of this Assembly, to my colleagues in Cabinet and to the Standing Committee on Finance that we are bursting at the seams at every school in the Northwest Territories. At this particular juncture, in order for us just to keep up with the needs for this year -- so I can address the issues in Chesterfield Inlet and the issues in Igloolik and Pond Inlet, or for every community -- we're short approximately $16 million this year. That is what we are short.

We would require an additional $6 million for the next five years, in order for us to just keep up with the renovation requirements so that we could accommodate those increases in student population. That is what is required. Because there have been other requirements requested in this House -- what Members have considered priorities -- we have been unable to make the necessary major changes in capital expenditures to accommodate what I consider to be one of the more significant requirements in our communities.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Minister's responsible for trying to get the significant increase in funding for education. This House has been indicating to the Minister that there is a lot of pressure to get better or bigger facilities in the schools, simply because of students coming back to school, or coming into school, in great numbers. Does the Minister, then plan to table additional funding in the near future to rectify this situation?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, at this particular juncture, no. The fact is that the Members here have already approved the expenditures of our capital plan for this particular year, unless of course there is a major initiative on the part of all Members to reallocate resources that we are now approving in our capital plan for educational purposes. That, in my view, is a decision that all of us must be a party to.

I recognize the support my honourable colleague has given to me previously and in statements in the House during the budget session, but we must also recognize that in spite of the statements that have been made, in spite of the decisions and the directions that have been given, there are still additional requirements that have been made of our capital expenditure. Therefore, we have not been able to address all the requirements. I pointed out these issues already to all our colleagues and I'm hoping that I can convince my colleagues along with yourselves, the importance of us trying to make the adjustments necessary. I have given all the information and I'm hoping that I can see the results of it by support of Members in this House.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister take interim measures in correcting, or at least make an adjustment to, the date of the five year capital plan, from 1998, according to the report recommendation that was submitted by the Standing Committee on Finance?

Minister Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, that is a matter that I will seriously consider, except I would suggest to the honourable Member that a part of the planning process also includes the divisional boards, who I respect in terms of their decision-making. I think that for me to make an adjustment without their consideration and their involvement would either make me look very bad, in terms of the authority that I've been trying to transfer to them, or for that matter, ignore what I consider to be an important responsibility for the community. I will take the matter and consider the issue seriously as has been suggested by the honourable Member.

Oral questions, supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Minister then also be active in getting the enrolment criteria system done, whereby it will be easier to just enrolment figures in the future? As a result of the school design, as soon as they are complete, the schools become overcrowded. Will he be active in promoting the new type of formula for capital plans by recognizing that the enrolment is 2.5 times higher than the national average?

Minister Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to indicate to the honourable Member, that particular matter is already being considered and we're hoping to have our capital criteria completed and revised by December of 1993. There's another consideration. We're increasing the size of classrooms, for instance, kindergarten rooms from 70 square feet now, to 90 square feet. I've already informed the Standing Committee on Finance that that is going to be a consideration for our new schools.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Mr. Pollard