Under section 23 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, there are several sections about the provision of schooling in French or English. In both of these major clauses regarding the rights of our linguistic minorities, they talk about the right of people to have instruction in their language in that school, but also they talk about the rights to have minority language educational facilities provided under public funds. In both cases, they talk about where numbers warrant. In the case of extension of grades, you said you've done it with nine students. In the case of implementing the requirements of this charter provision, what numbers do you use before you decide to build something so people can have instruction in French?

Mr. Chairman, just so that there is no confusion here, we are not building onto a building, just for nine people. We are trying to deliver a program within the existing facility. Once it expands beyond those initial numbers, then we consider the expansion of the program just to accommodate those students. I just want to be clear about that.

What the honourable Member is raising is an additional matter that we are taking very seriously. As Minister, I take it very seriously that there is an obligation on our part for us to seriously consider section 23 of the Constitution. Part of the Northwest Territories Act also includes our commitment to French and English. As a result of that, the department, along with this particular community, is working to try to organize the resources for the governance of a school and the resources for a French first language program. We are already offering it. The question is, how much do we expand it across the Northwest Territories in terms of Iqaluit, et cetera? We are going to have to be cautious about it, but still be responsible in responding to those needs as well. I can't give you numbers at this particular juncture. We are trying to work together on that particular matter.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have a general comment that I'm sure is common to other communities in the NWT. It is with regard to the structure and the material used in construction of education centres throughout the territories. I would like to make the Minister aware of the problem that I have seen in my community. I'm sure it is also a problem in other communities in this jurisdiction, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, in Pelly Bay we have a problem that occurs almost every year, especially in the winter when the temperature is below freezing. Mr. Chairman, every year we have little kids playing along the steel railing of the school. The steel railing is alongside of the steps leading into the building. The little ones, six or seven years old, maybe ten, put their tongue onto the metal and get stuck. This is extremely dangerous.

I'm wondering if the Minister would consider this seriously and perhaps talk to the people at DPW and make sure that the kind of material they use in future construction is not steel.

The problem we have in Pelly Bay has been discussed by the community education council. I am informed that the community is dealing with the problem and I'm sure the problem will be eradicated. I don't know when, but some time very soon. I want to know if the Minister is aware of this problem. Thank you.

Yes, we probably all have, Mr. Chairman. I take the information and the advice of the honourable Member seriously, along with my colleagues here. So, we will review that particular matter and see if we can find a solution.

Thank you. In this age of high tech, how do schools, resource centres, colleges and even language centres purchase high tech equipment such as computers, video equipment, et cetera? I don't see any category in here. Is that budget given to the school boards and they allocate it?

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, generally that is the way it is done. We allocate the finances to the school boards. At times, there is a special requirement on our part to purchase capital. We have just purchased a computer program and connection for a networking system for all our schools, under capital. So, we can network each school across the Northwest Territories, but that's a special situation. Generally speaking, the board is the one that gets the financial resources.

Thank you, Minister. Mr. Koe.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Does this government own, in any community, busses or vans to transport students?

I could not lie, yes we do.

Thank you, general comments. Mr. Koe.

I thought it was a policy or an intent of this government to get out of that business. The reason I mention it is, I see under headquarters, on page 16-15 -- I know we're not there -- there's money allocated for replacing busses and vans. I was just curious. I thought the intent was to get out of that business and put it in community school boards and private sector hands.

Thank you. Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just to note though, there are certain situations where we still do purchase vans. For instance, the students that live in residence, at Akaitcho Hall here or the students at the Rae-Edzo school or some of the other residences across the Northwest Territories. We purchase vehicles for them to maintain their students. That's generally what these requests are for.

Thank you. General comments. Does this committee agree that we go line by line?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Line By Line

Thank you. Page 16-9, detail of capital, culture and careers, building & works, headquarters, total region $185,000. Is that agreed? Mr. Koe.

What's this item, capital development, college, $30,000?

Mr. Minister.

You have to give me some time here to find it. Mr. Chairman, we do have programs that are still being delivered here in headquarters, even though we may not have headquarters here itself. There are still programs that we're generally going to be offering and there are ongoing O&M requirements.