Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, that would depend on whether there is a request that has been submitted by the parents of that particular community for a French first-language school. Secondly, it would depend on whether the submission and proposal meets the criteria that have been established under the languages agreement between this government and the Government of Canada. Generally speaking, the Government of Canada is totally responsible for paying for the issue of French first- language education. We would have to work out the terms and conditions with the Government of Canada.

Supplementary, Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that the federal government has made about $12 million available to our governments in Canada, both the provinces and territories, last May. My understanding is that our government was the only government that did not apply for that fund. Is that true, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to correct a suggestion that there was funding available and we did not apply for funding. The fact was that when the announcement was made, I believe that it was $112 million by the Secretary of State, those resources were for the governance of schools. In other words, it was for the setting up of boards or management structures in order for those agencies to have responsibility over school programming. That was the case.

In fact, in that situation, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon were not part of that particular announcement and were excluded by the Government of Canada from that funding. We have since indicated to the government Secretary of State and the Government of Canada and through working with the Yellowknife French Parents Association and Federation Franco-Tenoise, that there is a need for the Government of Canada to respond to requests for governance and for the Government of Canada to pay all costs for governance of French first-language schools. We are, in fact, submitting a proposal and request to the Secretary of State for that funding.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Programs made a statement on a discussion paper, Towards a Strategy to 2010. In the statement, he talked about the department developing a strategic plan to guide the direction of delivery of education, culture and employment programs and also said that, "we have established some general directions in the document called, Towards a Strategy to 2010". My question to the Minister, is there a document available, or will the Minister be tabling a document some time today in this Assembly?

Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. If the honourable Member will give us a chance to get through the order paper, I certainly will be tabling an appropriate document. In fact, I'll be tabling two documents, one in English and the executive summary in Inuktitut.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Unfortunately, I don't have control over the order paper. I would like to ask a supplementary, Mr. Speaker. In various committees of this Assembly, the Minister has been quoted as saying that, "the strategy will be ready by this fall." I'm just wondering if the time frame has now changed because I note in his statement that the strategy is going to be complete in the spring of 1994. I was just wondering if this is a change in the timing of the strategy.

Mr. Nerysoo.

No, Mr. Speaker. The honourable Member may be incorrect. In fact, the suggestion that was made previously was that a draft document, a discussion paper, would be developed. The time table of that was also provided to the House and the standing committees. It is according to the agenda that was proposed in the number of remarks I had made previously.

We will conclude our final discussion by the spring, hopefully by April of this particular year. It may be approved by this session in February, March and April.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Transportation. I would like to know how soon we can expect to see a policy on access roads. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

The policy for access roads is complete. It will be reviewed by the Cabinet very, very shortly. We have made provision in the budget, based on the input we received from MLAs last year. Mr. Ningark, in particular, spoke forcefully about the need for one. I'm optimistic that it should be approved by the end of this session. The dollars are in the budget and it has been approved by the Legislative Assembly. We'll be able to proceed forthwith, with discussions in communities to work out cost-sharing arrangements to build these access roads as early as the new year. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There have been requests for access roads in both Baker Lake and Arviat. Baker Lake, in particular, in addition to the request for access roads, had requested a bridge so that the hunters would not have to cross a river. With these requests, the department came back to the hamlet council stating that they would like to look at the making of this bridge again. I would like to find out from the Minister whether we would be able to proceed with the making of this bridge this coming summer. Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Well, optimistically speaking, we would like to be able to do that. However, as I said to the honourable Member, we do intend to initiate discussions immediately after the policy is approved. Baker Lake and Arviat are two of the communities that have requested that discussions take place with the department. I can't commit, at this time, as to whether the bridge will be able to be done this summer. But, I will commit to the honourable Member that we will initiate discussions as quickly as possible in the new year. The bridge is part of the access road into White Hills, I believe. I want to assure the honourable Member, if it is at all possible, we will endeavour to do exactly that. Thank you.

Item 5, oral questions. Mr. Whitford.