Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a question I would like to direct to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. It relates to the lapse of money for French language programs and other matters. It has been my understanding that any proposals that were put forward by L'Association des Parents Franco de Yellowknife and the Federation Franco-Tenoise deal with education and language matters. They are scrutinized by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment prior to forwarding them on to Heritage Canada for funding. Often, it is felt that they are pared down. By the time they reach Heritage Canada, who also takes a cut at them, there is not much left. This may have contributed to some of the lapse in funding in the past. Can the Minister assure the people responsible, that this procedure will be reviewed in order that the proposals are as close as possible to their original state when they reach Heritage Canada, and avoid any kind of lapse in the future.

Mr. Speaker, arising out of the question asked by the Member for Thebacha, there is going to be a report made available to Members of this House regarding the incidents involving young offenders, both in secure custody and open custody. There have been a number of incidents in the last few months that were caused by young offenders in the custody of corrections. It's our view that in many cases, incidents involving violence, escapes or unlawful custody, arise out of acts by these young offenders, with no indication whatsoever from their previous behaviour or actions that would have anybody believe that they would act in such a way. There is no blame pointed at the courts for sentencing the way they do. It's simply a statement recognizing -- and I think the courts recognize themselves -- that many young offenders who are sentenced to open custody give no one an indication that they would be planning to run away, to break out of these facilities at a later date or to commit acts of violence. It's simply an observation that we all make. The specifics of the incidents that the Member raised the other day, rising out of incidents at the Hay River facility and the River Ridge facility, will be made available in the next few days for Members to review and, if they wish, to continue raising concerns in this House. Thank you.

Yes. Mr. Speaker, that was a very long winded preamble, with a short question at the end. I tried to pay attention, diligently, through the whole thing. Now let me see if I have it clear. The Member is asking me if I find fault with the court sentencing of young offenders in the way in which they pass sentence. Mr. Speaker, just for the record, I find no fault with the way the courts have been passing down sentence.

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Mr. Speaker, I've indicated there is going to be a report that will, more succinctly than I ever could, more clearly than I could, at least for the Members here, indicate how we view the recent incidents which the Member has raised concern with, and show as an observation that some of the more serious incidents arising out of actions by young offenders came from those sentenced to open custody and not secure custody. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the report was what the Member asked for. It lays out that it does not conflict with any legislation or recent court rulings to triple designate facilities for the care of young offenders. As far as the staff of those facilities are concerned, the managers and the staff, the senior people within corrections, the Department of Justice and other jurisdictions in Canada who have operated these types of facilities for a longer period of time, it is fully in line with the public interest and the way that governments are compelled to take care of young offenders. It is fully in line with what managers and staff of these facilities feel they are able and capable of delivering for those they are held responsible for.

We feel it fully meets the needs of the young offenders in the way that present legislation directs us to care and give guidance to those young offenders in our care. I believe it isn't necessary to continue reviewing. There is a great job that needs to be done. I believe the Member wants to spend public money trying to find some minute fault in the system that we are trying very hard to improve. I find it difficult in finding a way to support that. I say that, by all indications, it is a good system. The staff have adapted well to it and they feel challenged by it. At this time, the reviews do not give any indication that there are any weaknesses or deficiencies in the way we decided to move. Thank you.